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Clinton to tackle Congo conflict Clinton appeal on Congo conflict
(about 7 hours later)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she will speak out on the country's deadly civil conflict. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has urged students in the Democratic Republic of Congo to speak out against the country's deadly civil conflict.
Mrs Clinton is expected to call for an end to rights abuses, including mass rapes reportedly carried out by rebels and government troops. On the latest leg of her seven-nation African tour, she said students could write a new chapter in history.
Violence flared in the country's mineral-rich east last year, raising fears of a return to civil war.Violence flared in the country's mineral-rich east last year, raising fears of a return to civil war.
Mrs Clinton, on a seven-nation tour of Africa, was in Angola earlier. She said people must condemn the mass rapes reportedly carried out by rebels and government troops there.
She promised US oil firms would give greater help to Angola's other sectors, such as agriculture. Mrs Clinton was speaking to students in the Congolese capital Kinshasa.
She also held 45 minutes of talks with President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, and told reporters afterwards that he had committed to a "timely" presidential election - which would be the country's first since 1992. She said that domestic outrage against corruption and sexual assaults against women and girls was needed to help prod the authorities to take action.
"You are the ones who have to speak out. Speak out to end the corruption, the violence, the conflict that for too long have eroded the opportunities across this country," she said.
On Tuesday Mrs Clinton will meet President Joseph Kabila in the eastern town of Goma, where she will push the issue of ending human rights atrocities including mass rapes.
Basketball philanthropyBasketball philanthropy
On her arrival in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, Mrs Clinton is set to visit a newly-built hospital. She faced a variety of questions.
Basketball star Dikembe Mutombo runs a charitable foundationBasketball star Dikembe Mutombo runs a charitable foundation
At one point a student inquired about the views of her husband, former president Bill Clinton, about a Chinese loan to DR Congo.
She replied: "My husband is not the secretary of state, I am."
On her arrival in Kinshasa, Mrs Clinton visited a hospital, founded by an American basketball star, Dikembe Mutumbo, who is Congolese by origin.
The BBC's East Africa correspondent Will Ross says the modern facility is in stark contrast to the rest of the country's dilapidated health system.The BBC's East Africa correspondent Will Ross says the modern facility is in stark contrast to the rest of the country's dilapidated health system.
But the hospital was not built by the government - its construction was paid for by Dikembe Mutombo, a Congolese basketball star who made his name in the US.
On Tuesday Mrs Clinton will meet President Joseph Kabila in the eastern town of Goma, where the focus will be on ending human rights atrocities including mass rape.
CLINTON'S AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde Clinton helps South Africa bloom Send us your commentsCLINTON'S AFRICAN TOUR KenyaSouth AfricaNigeriaAngolaLiberiaDemocratic Republic of CongoCape Verde Clinton helps South Africa bloom Send us your comments
Our correspondent says the US and the rest of the international community realise that if stability can be brought to DR Congo it could have a positive impact on a vast swathe of Africa.Our correspondent says the US and the rest of the international community realise that if stability can be brought to DR Congo it could have a positive impact on a vast swathe of Africa.
The country borders eight other nations, and its conflicts have frequently spilled over its borders.The country borders eight other nations, and its conflicts have frequently spilled over its borders.
The US is a major aid donor and has helped the country in some of its recent successes like the elections of 2006 and the thawing of relations with Rwanda.The US is a major aid donor and has helped the country in some of its recent successes like the elections of 2006 and the thawing of relations with Rwanda.
Mrs Clinton arrived in Congo from Angola, where she met President Jose Eduardo dos Santos.
She said Mr dos Santos had pledged to hold long-delayed presidential elections as soon as this could be done.
Mrs Clinton has already visited South Africa and Kenya as part of the trip - her longest foreign tour since taking office.Mrs Clinton has already visited South Africa and Kenya as part of the trip - her longest foreign tour since taking office.
She is also due to visit Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde.She is also due to visit Nigeria, Liberia and Cape Verde.