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UK troops 'may be sent to Congo' UK troops 'will not go to Congo'
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown has warned British troops may be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said British troops will not be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
He told the the BBC that it could be an option if diplomacy could not resolve fighting between the country's government and rebel forces. Mr Miliband said there are 17,000 UN troops in the country and UK soldiers would not join them "at the moment".
Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French counterpart Bernard Kouchner are in the country for crisis talks. He was speaking from the African country where he and his French counterpart Bernard Kouchner are attending crisis talks.
Mr Miliband said nothing was "ruled out in terms of European engagement". Earlier, Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown told the BBC that sending British troops there may be an option.
He was speaking after he and Mr Kouchner met Congolese president Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa to discuss the fighting between the country's government and rebel forces. Lord Malloch-Brown had warned British soldiers could be sent if diplomacy could not resolve fighting between the country's government and rebel forces.
Mr Miliband told the Reuters News agency: "Nothing has been ruled out in terms of European engagement, but at this stage the military force comes from the UN, the political process needs to come from the parties on the ground, and our role is to help that." But Mr Miliband said: "We're not at the moment looking at sending British troops to join the UN force.
The news agency reported that Mr Kouchner had told Mr Kabila that although the European Union is ready to send humanitarian aid for civilians caught up in the conflict, it had not yet decided whether it would send troops. "What we do need to do is make sure these [UN] troops are properly deployed in the regions that are under the greatest stress so that the humanitarian aid can get in.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was hopeful progress could be made through diplomacy. "But we also know that while humanitarian aid depends on security... security depends on a proper political process."
It is thought more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the conflict.
Earlier Lord Malloch-Brown, the UK Minister for Africa, had told the BBC's Today programme the UK and other European powers had to get involved if no solution was in sight.Earlier Lord Malloch-Brown, the UK Minister for Africa, had told the BBC's Today programme the UK and other European powers had to get involved if no solution was in sight.
He said that contingency plans were being drawn up for the deployment of an EU force to bolster United Nations peacekeepers.He said that contingency plans were being drawn up for the deployment of an EU force to bolster United Nations peacekeepers.
He said: "We have certainly got to have it as an option which is developed and on the table if we need it.He said: "We have certainly got to have it as an option which is developed and on the table if we need it.
"The first line of call on this should be the deployment of the UN's own troops from elsewhere in the country."The first line of call on this should be the deployment of the UN's own troops from elsewhere in the country.
"But we have got to have plans. If everything else fails we cannot stand back and watch violence erupt."But we have got to have plans. If everything else fails we cannot stand back and watch violence erupt.
"The idea of a European force is very much at the back of the line and a contingency that we hope that we will not need to be drawn on," he said.
A tense ceasefire is holding in the eastern city of Goma, from which thousands of people fled as rebels advanced on Wednesday.HAVE YOUR SAYShame on all world politicians for allowing this to carry on for so long. Every human being should not live in fear.John Lee Sullivan, Aylesbury Send us your commentsA tense ceasefire is holding in the eastern city of Goma, from which thousands of people fled as rebels advanced on Wednesday.HAVE YOUR SAYShame on all world politicians for allowing this to carry on for so long. Every human being should not live in fear.John Lee Sullivan, Aylesbury Send us your comments
But the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, says it has credible reports that camps sheltering 50,000 displaced people in the eastern DR Congo have been destroyed.But the UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, says it has credible reports that camps sheltering 50,000 displaced people in the eastern DR Congo have been destroyed.
Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
It has been alleged that the Rwandan government has given him some support, which it strongly denies.It has been alleged that the Rwandan government has given him some support, which it strongly denies.
Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner have arrived in Goma in the east of the country and will then travel onwards to Kigali for discussions with Rwandan leader Paul Kagame.Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner have arrived in Goma in the east of the country and will then travel onwards to Kigali for discussions with Rwandan leader Paul Kagame.
The European Union has been trying to bring the two leaders together.The European Union has been trying to bring the two leaders together.
The prime minister said he had asked Mr Miliband to go to the country and was hopeful the diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis will "make progress".The prime minister said he had asked Mr Miliband to go to the country and was hopeful the diplomatic efforts to ease the crisis will "make progress".
He said: "My worry is about the thousands of people who have been displaced at the moment by the violence which is taking place.He said: "My worry is about the thousands of people who have been displaced at the moment by the violence which is taking place.
"That is why it is essential it ends immediately. There is only a political solution to this by discussion, not by military means."Killings, rapes and looting have been reported around Goma"That is why it is essential it ends immediately. There is only a political solution to this by discussion, not by military means."Killings, rapes and looting have been reported around Goma
He said he would continue to monitor the situation but felt it was essential for the country leaders to "return to the negotiating table".He said he would continue to monitor the situation but felt it was essential for the country leaders to "return to the negotiating table".
A Foreign Office spokesman said Mr Miliband and Mr Kouchner were not going to set "unrealistic ambitions" for the visit but their trip indicated how concerned the UK and the France was about the situation.
The Department for International Development is sending a further £5 million in aid to provide food, water and shelter for refugees from the violence. The UK already provides £42m to DR Congo each year.
Alpha Sankoh from ActionAid said the presence of Mr Miliband in the country was welcome.Alpha Sankoh from ActionAid said the presence of Mr Miliband in the country was welcome.
He said: "The foreign secretary must also use his influence to ensure UN peacekeeping forces protect civilians, especially women and children, and guarantee safe passage for humanitarian workers."He said: "The foreign secretary must also use his influence to ensure UN peacekeeping forces protect civilians, especially women and children, and guarantee safe passage for humanitarian workers."
Oxfam has removed its international staff from Goma as a "precautionary measure" and Save the Children had evacuated most of its North Kivu province because their lives were threatened.Oxfam has removed its international staff from Goma as a "precautionary measure" and Save the Children had evacuated most of its North Kivu province because their lives were threatened.
However it said a small team, including health and nutrition experts, was back in the city and making an emergency assessment of the needs of the displaced there.However it said a small team, including health and nutrition experts, was back in the city and making an emergency assessment of the needs of the displaced there.
Aid agencies say the situation in and around Goma remained highly volatile with access to those in need extremely difficult.Aid agencies say the situation in and around Goma remained highly volatile with access to those in need extremely difficult.