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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Call to boost UN DR Congo powers | Call to boost UN DR Congo powers |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has called for the mandate of UN forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be strengthened. | French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner has called for the mandate of UN forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be strengthened. |
| "We need different soldiers, and different rules of engagement," he said after briefing his EU counterparts about his weekend visit there. | "We need different soldiers, and different rules of engagement," he said after briefing his EU counterparts about his weekend visit there. |
| Rebels routed the army in the eastern North Kivu province last week, and are now threatening the regional capital. | Rebels routed the army in the eastern North Kivu province last week, and are now threatening the regional capital. |
| Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in the area. | Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in the area. |
| The rebel leader, renegade General Laurent Nkunda, has declared a ceasefire and said he will guarantee "humanitarian corridors" through rebel lines. | The rebel leader, renegade General Laurent Nkunda, has declared a ceasefire and said he will guarantee "humanitarian corridors" through rebel lines. |
| But his spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa told AFP news agency that the Congolese government was "waging war" by refusing to hold direct negotiations. | But his spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa told AFP news agency that the Congolese government was "waging war" by refusing to hold direct negotiations. |
| What should be done when people are being killed? We need more of an offensive capability Bernard Kouchner Congo crisis: Eyewitness accounts | What should be done when people are being killed? We need more of an offensive capability Bernard Kouchner Congo crisis: Eyewitness accounts |
| Gen Nkunda's forces are positioned outside Goma, the regional capital. | Gen Nkunda's forces are positioned outside Goma, the regional capital. |
| The United Nations has a 17,000-strong force in the country, called Monuc. | The United Nations has a 17,000-strong force in the country, called Monuc. |
| It is its biggest mission in the world, but correspondents say it is struggling to contain the conflict. | It is its biggest mission in the world, but correspondents say it is struggling to contain the conflict. |
| "What should be done when people are being killed?," Mr Kouchner said. "We need more of an offensive capability." | "What should be done when people are being killed?," Mr Kouchner said. "We need more of an offensive capability." |
| He said the peacekeepers' rules of engagement were "insufficient" and "very restrictive". | He said the peacekeepers' rules of engagement were "insufficient" and "very restrictive". |
| Desperate | Desperate |
| Mr Kouchner was speaking in the southern French city of Marseille, following talks with 26 other European Union foreign ministers on Monday. | Mr Kouchner was speaking in the southern French city of Marseille, following talks with 26 other European Union foreign ministers on Monday. |
| He and his British counterpart David Miliband travelled to DR Congo at the weekend. | He and his British counterpart David Miliband travelled to DR Congo at the weekend. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| The BBC's Peter Greste saw the convoy arrive | The BBC's Peter Greste saw the convoy arrive |
| They met both Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali and Congolese President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. | They met both Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Kigali and Congolese President Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. |
| On Monday, Mr Kouchner did not rule out sending more EU troops to DR Congo, but added: "That has still to be decided." | On Monday, Mr Kouchner did not rule out sending more EU troops to DR Congo, but added: "That has still to be decided." |
| UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy, visiting Goma, said troops there would "do the maximum to protect the civilians". | UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy, visiting Goma, said troops there would "do the maximum to protect the civilians". |
| Enlarge Map | Enlarge Map |
| In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as his special envoy to help resolve the crisis. | In New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo as his special envoy to help resolve the crisis. |
| Mr Ban added that he was willing to meet Mr Kabila and Mr Kagame soon. | Mr Ban added that he was willing to meet Mr Kabila and Mr Kagame soon. |
| Meanwhile an aid convoy escorted by UN troops arrived in Rutshuru, a rebel-held town 75km (45 miles) north of Goma. | Meanwhile an aid convoy escorted by UN troops arrived in Rutshuru, a rebel-held town 75km (45 miles) north of Goma. |
| It carried medical supplies and water purification tablets. The UN said it hoped food convoys could follow. | It carried medical supplies and water purification tablets. The UN said it hoped food convoys could follow. |
| Aid workers found that refugee camps that had held tens of thousands are now virtually empty. | Aid workers found that refugee camps that had held tens of thousands are now virtually empty. |
| It is believed many people left fearing further violence. | It is believed many people left fearing further violence. |
| While as many as 50,000 displaced people reached Goma, many others have tried to return to their homes on foot through rebel-held territory. | While as many as 50,000 displaced people reached Goma, many others have tried to return to their homes on foot through rebel-held territory. |
| Many have been reduced to foraging for wild roots and berries in the bush, without safe shelter, water and care. | Many have been reduced to foraging for wild roots and berries in the bush, without safe shelter, water and care. |
| The recent rebel offensive was exacerbated by a wave of killing, looting and raping by retreating Congolese soldiers. | The recent rebel offensive was exacerbated by a wave of killing, looting and raping by retreating Congolese soldiers. |
| Brown's pledge | Brown's pledge |
| The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both countries' presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation. | The Congolese government accuses Rwanda of backing the rebels, but both countries' presidents have agreed to attend a regional summit on the situation. |
| UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the international community must "not allow Congo to become another Rwanda". | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said the international community must "not allow Congo to become another Rwanda". |
| href="/1/hi/world/africa/7706437.stm">Struggle to help victims class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7705880.stm">In pictures: DR Congo crisisEyewitness accountsQ&A: DR Congo conflict | |
| In 1994, 800,000 people died in Rwanda's genocide, which is seen as the origin of the current conflict across the border. | In 1994, 800,000 people died in Rwanda's genocide, which is seen as the origin of the current conflict across the border. |
| Gen 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 genocide. | Gen 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 genocide. |
| There have been accusations of collusion between DR Congo's army and Hutu guerrillas. | There have been accusations of collusion between DR Congo's army and Hutu guerrillas. |
| The Congolese government, for its part, has accused Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda. | The Congolese government, for its part, has accused Rwanda of backing Gen Nkunda. |
| Rwanda denies this, but it has twice invaded its much larger neighbour in recent years. | Rwanda denies this, but it has twice invaded its much larger neighbour in recent years. |
| Are you in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Have you been affected by the conflict? Send us your story using the form below: | Are you in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Have you been affected by the conflict? Send us your story using the form below: |