This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7204898.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Rebels sign DR Congo peace deal | Rebels sign DR Congo peace deal |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A peace pact has been signed in Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by the government and armed rebel groups. | A peace pact has been signed in Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by the government and armed rebel groups. |
| The Mai Mai militia and dissident rebel general Laurent Nkunda finally agreed to sign after long negotiations. | The Mai Mai militia and dissident rebel general Laurent Nkunda finally agreed to sign after long negotiations. |
| The deal includes an immediate ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of all rebel forces in North Kivu province and resettlement of thousands of villagers. | The deal includes an immediate ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of all rebel forces in North Kivu province and resettlement of thousands of villagers. |
| It aims to end months of bloody conflict in the east which has driven almost 500,000 people from their homes. | |
| One observer called the pact "historic". | |
| The different factions had said they were ready to demobilise after seeing the peace deal on Monday but then disagreements emerged. | The different factions had said they were ready to demobilise after seeing the peace deal on Monday but then disagreements emerged. |
| Talks involving the government and more than 20 rebel groups lasted more than two weeks and were sponsored by the United States, the European Union and the African Union. | Talks involving the government and more than 20 rebel groups lasted more than two weeks and were sponsored by the United States, the European Union and the African Union. |
| The ceremony was attended by President Joseph Kabila and witnessed by reporters. Surviving Congo: In pictures Profile: Gen NkundaHave Your Say | The ceremony was attended by President Joseph Kabila and witnessed by reporters. Surviving Congo: In pictures Profile: Gen NkundaHave Your Say |
| War and related crises in the central African country is claiming 45,000 lives a month, according to an aid agency. | War and related crises in the central African country is claiming 45,000 lives a month, according to an aid agency. |
| The International Rescue Committee says the death toll in the past decade has surpassed any conflict since World War II - 5.4m. | |
| The deal would grant amnesty to all fighting groups, but it is not clear what will happen to Mr Nkunda, who has not attended the talks. | The deal would grant amnesty to all fighting groups, but it is not clear what will happen to Mr Nkunda, who has not attended the talks. |
| There were suggestions that Gen Nkunda could be integrated into the army or sent into exile. | |
| He leads the main rebel movement in the area and his forces repulsed a major government offensive last December. | He leads the main rebel movement in the area and his forces repulsed a major government offensive last December. |
| The government has issued an international arrest warrant against Gen Nkunda, for alleged war crimes committed by his forces. | The government has issued an international arrest warrant against Gen Nkunda, for alleged war crimes committed by his forces. |
| He claims his forces are protecting ethnic Tutsis in North Kivu from Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. | He claims his forces are protecting ethnic Tutsis in North Kivu from Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. |