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DR Congo accuses UN over killings Fighting as DR Congo talks start
(about 1 hour later)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused UN peacekeepers of failing to stop rebel troops killing civilians in the east of the country. Fresh fighting has broken out between rebels and government troops in DR Congo, as African leaders and the UN's Ban Ki-moon began crisis talks.
Mr Ban is meeting DR Congo leader Joseph Kabila and Rwandan leader Paul Kagame, in the hope of reviving a peace deal signed in January.
Rebels have been fighting government troops in eastern Congo since August.
DR Congo has accused UN peacekeepers of failing to stop rebels from killing civilians in the east of the country.
"People are being slaughtered and [UN peacekeepers] did nothing," a spokesman for President Joseph Kabila said."People are being slaughtered and [UN peacekeepers] did nothing," a spokesman for President Joseph Kabila said.
The comments came as regional leaders met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in Kenya for crisis talks.
There were also reports that fresh fighting has broken out between rebels and government troops north of Goma.
See detailed map of the area See detailed map of the area
Congolese rebels have been fighting government troops in eastern Congo since August, causing tens of thousands of civilians to flee.
The summit in Nairobi will be a diplomatic banging together of heads to avoid the fighting escalating into a regional conflict, says the BBC's Karen Allen.The summit in Nairobi will be a diplomatic banging together of heads to avoid the fighting escalating into a regional conflict, says the BBC's Karen Allen.
Mr Ban's aim is to get a peace deal which was signed earlier this year back on track.
Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda is not attending the talks, but he is in contact with the UN and other delegates at the summit.Rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda is not attending the talks, but he is in contact with the UN and other delegates at the summit.
The head of the UN mission in DR Congo, Alan Ross, told the BBC the summit was vital, even if the chances of moving towards a solution were slim.
'Killed by guns''Killed by guns'
Congolese army General Vainqueur Mayala, the head of government forces in North Kivu province, told the Reuters news agency that there had been a "clash" between his troops and rebels loyal to Gen Nkunda near a refugee camp in Kibati on Friday. UN peacekeepers said gunfire erupted on Friday just north of the city of Goma, where rebel forces halted their offensive last week.
Thousands fled towards Goma when the mortar and small arms fire broke out, a reporter for Agence France Presse said. Thousands of refugees in the nearby town of Kibati are said to have fled towards Goma when the mortar and small arms fire broke out.
They knocked on the doors, when the people opened, they killed them with their guns Simo Bramporiki Rwanda's role in conflictCongolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance They knocked on the doors, when the people opened, they killed them with their guns Simo Bramporiki Rwanda's role in conflict href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7549444.stm">Diary: Protecting mountain gorillas class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7713262.stm">Congolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance
Meanwhile, the UN said it was investigating reports that rebels led by General Nkunda had killed civilians in their homes in the eastern town of Kiwanja. Meanwhile, the UN said it was investigating reports that rebels led by Gen Nkunda had killed civilians in their homes in the eastern town of Kiwanja on Thursday.
At least 12 bodies were found in the town, which was retaken by rebels loyal to him earlier this week.At least 12 bodies were found in the town, which was retaken by rebels loyal to him earlier this week.
"They knocked on the doors, when the people opened, they killed them with their guns," said Simo Bramporiki, whose wife and child were killed during the night."They knocked on the doors, when the people opened, they killed them with their guns," said Simo Bramporiki, whose wife and child were killed during the night.
One woman showed journalists the bodies of five men inside her house, one of them her husband, and two more lying outside.One woman showed journalists the bodies of five men inside her house, one of them her husband, and two more lying outside.
Gen Nkunda claimed his fighters, who have also seized control of the town of Nyanzale, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Goma, had attacked armed pro-government militia.Gen Nkunda claimed his fighters, who have also seized control of the town of Nyanzale, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Goma, had attacked armed pro-government militia.
However, reports say there was nothing to indicate the men, most of whom were wearing civilian clothing, were fighters.However, reports say there was nothing to indicate the men, most of whom were wearing civilian clothing, were fighters.
Child soldiers
A spokesman for the UN in DR Congo, Madnodje Mounoubai, told the BBC that the UN was doing its best to help civilians, but that peacekeepers could not fire at rebels when they were surrounded by civilians.A spokesman for the UN in DR Congo, Madnodje Mounoubai, told the BBC that the UN was doing its best to help civilians, but that peacekeepers could not fire at rebels when they were surrounded by civilians.
The fragile ceasefire in eastern Congo is unraveling"You cannot fire when you have civilians on the road running in all directions. If you start firing in that situation you end up killing a lot of civilians," he said. "You cannot fire when you have civilians on the road running in all directions. If you start firing in that situation you end up killing a lot of civilians," he said.
"We have to be responsible when we are using our fire power, that's our problem."
The situation in DR Congo has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe, and an estimated 250,000 people have been made homeless by the conflict.The situation in DR Congo has been described as a humanitarian catastrophe, and an estimated 250,000 people have been made homeless by the conflict.
The UN says it is investigating the killings in Kiwanja
The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making the mission, Monuc, its largest in the world.The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making the mission, Monuc, its largest in the world.
But only a few hundred peacekeepers are in the areas affected by the latest violence, and human rights groups have also criticised the UN for failing to prevent the killings.But only a few hundred peacekeepers are in the areas affected by the latest violence, and human rights groups have also criticised the UN for failing to prevent the killings.
However, Monuc says it is reinforcing its troops in the regional capital, Goma, and has warned that soldiers will fire on any armed group trying to enter the city.However, Monuc says it is reinforcing its troops in the regional capital, Goma, and has warned that soldiers will fire on any armed group trying to enter the city.
Child soldiers Meanwhile, the charity Save the Children says there has been an increase in the kidnapping of children to become child soldiers.
The charity Save the Children says there has been an increase in the kidnapping of children to become child soldiers. Before the fighting began in earlier this year, there were an estimated 3,000 child soldiers across the country, but that number is now thought to be much higher.
Before the fighting began in earlier this year, there were an estimated 3,000 child soldiers across the country, but that number is now expected to be higher.
"At the beginning of June we were thinking that in this region there were about 3,000 child soldiers... The numbers now, after this latest upsurge of recruitment and violence, are likely to be very much higher," said spokeswoman Ishbel Matheson."At the beginning of June we were thinking that in this region there were about 3,000 child soldiers... The numbers now, after this latest upsurge of recruitment and violence, are likely to be very much higher," said spokeswoman Ishbel Matheson.
No negotiations
Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks.Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks.
Gen Nkunda defends his military actions
The Congolese government has refused to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, calling him a terrorist.The Congolese government has refused to negotiate with Gen Nkunda, calling him a terrorist.
He says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide.He says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide.
Gen Nkunda defends his military actions
The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.The Congolese government has often promised to stop Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.
For its part, the Congolese government accuses Rwanda trying to destabilise it of by backing the rebels, which Rwanda denies.For its part, the Congolese government accuses Rwanda trying to destabilise it of by backing the rebels, which Rwanda denies.
Gen Nkunda also objects to government plans for foreign involvement in exploiting the country's vast mineral wealth.Gen Nkunda also objects to government plans for foreign involvement in exploiting the country's vast mineral wealth.
Correspondents say a ceasefire around Goma appears to be holding, but the latest clashes have sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack the city.Correspondents say a ceasefire around Goma appears to be holding, but the latest clashes have sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack the city.
Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge there.Tens of thousands of people have sought refuge there.
Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has blamed the international community for failing to address what he says are the root causes of the crisis, despite channelling tens of millions of dollars into the region. Rwandan President Paul Kagame has blamed the international community for failing to address what he says are the root causes of the crisis, despite channelling tens of millions of dollars into the region.
He said the real reason for the crisis was what he described as the weak leadership of the Congolese government, which had failed to disarm Hutu rebels.He said the real reason for the crisis was what he described as the weak leadership of the Congolese government, which had failed to disarm Hutu rebels.
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Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting?
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