VOANews.com

 

Today from VOA:

News in 45 Languages
Congolese Rebel Leader Threatens War if No Talks

30 November 2008

UN special envoy, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, right, is escorted to his car by CNDP rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, waving to the crowd, after their meeting in Jomba, east Congo, near the Uganda border
UN special envoy, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, right, is escorted to his car by CNDP rebel leader Laurent Nkunda, waving to the crowd, after their meeting in Jomba, east Congo, near the Uganda border
The main rebel leader in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo says there will be war unless Congo's government holds new talks with him.

Laurent Nkunda gave the warning after holding talks Saturday with the U.N. special envoy to the region, Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been in the country in a bid to end the violence in eastern Congo.

Nkunda said he was told by Mr. Obasanjo that Congo's government has accepted the principle of talks, but has not agreed on the details.

Video footage of the meeting, taken by the United Nations, shows Mr. Obasanjo criticizing the rebel leader for recent fighting. He said he is not happy by the events of the past two weeks and told Nkunda "you are making me a laughing stock."

Thursday, the rebels captured the eastern town of Ishasha, despite promises to maintain a cease-fire.

The rebel leader told Mr. Obasanjo that the cease-fire agreement only applied to government forces, and not to what he called "negative and foreign forces."  The rebels have continued to fight Rwandan Hutu rebels who they accuse of targeting Tutis in the eastern DRC.

The talks in the rebel-held town of Jomba in North Kivu province took place as the United Nations reported more fighting between Nkunda's forces and armed groups near the town of Masisi.

Mr. Obasanjo met Friday with Congolese President Joseph Kabila in the capital, Kinshasa.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
 


E-mail This Article E-mail This Article
Print This Article Print Version
  Related Stories
UN Envoy, Rebel Leader Meet in Eastern Congo
DRC Opposition to Indian Troops Draws Mixed Reaction
Congolese Refugees Flee to Uganda
DRC War Crimes Suspects Plead Not Guilty
 
  Top Story
US House Approves Health Care Reform Measure

  More Stories
Iran Lawmakers Say Tehran Will Reject UN-Backed Nuclear Deal
G20: Financial Stimulus Still Needed to Stabilize Economic Recovery
Afghanistan: NATO Strike Kills 7 Afghan Security Members  Audio Clip Available
Israelis Rally for Peace on Rabin Anniversary
Obama Praises Those Who Ended Fort Hood Rampage
Afghanistan Rejects UN Criticism of Karzai
Navy Ship Honoring 9/11 Victims is Commissioned Into Fleet
China's Wen Promises Greater Cooperation With Arab Nations  Audio Clip Available
Pakistan Army: 12 Militants Killed in Recent Fighting
Iraqi Parliament Fails Again to Approve New Electoral Law
Medvedev: Not All Hopes Realized After Berlin Wall Fell
US Disappointed at Breakdown in Honduras Political Talks
Berlin Prepares for Celebrations 20 Years After Fall of Wall  Video clip available
Harnessing Waste Produces Gas for Cooking in Kenya  Video clip available