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| Summit demands action on DR Congo | Summit demands action on DR Congo |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| African leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo and for UN peacekeepers to get greater powers. | African leaders have called for an immediate ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo and for UN peacekeepers to get greater powers. |
| After a summit in Nairobi on the crisis, they urged the creation of humanitarian corridors to help hundreds of thousands of displaced people. | After a summit in Nairobi on the crisis, they urged the creation of humanitarian corridors to help hundreds of thousands of displaced people. |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has meanwhile warned that the conflict could engulf the wider region. | |
| Unnamed UN officials say Angolans are fighting with government troops. | Unnamed UN officials say Angolans are fighting with government troops. |
| New clashes between government and rebel forces have broken out near Goma. | New clashes between government and rebel forces have broken out near Goma. |
| Thousands of displaced people have fled in panic from a nearby camp, as the clashes continue. The UN force, Monuc, have deployed helicopters to try to contain the violence. | |
| See detailed map of the area Rebels have been fighting government troops in eastern Congo since August. | See detailed map of the area 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. | DR Congo has accused UN peacekeepers of failing to stop rebels from killing civilians in the east of the country. |
| 'Heightened crisis' | 'Heightened crisis' |
| Reading out a communique by the seven leaders present at the summit, Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said the peacekeepers' mandate should be amended to give them "peace-making" capabilities and rebel groups in the region should be disarmed according to existing agreements. | |
| Mr Ban on the "violent hostilites" in DR Congo | |
| "There should be an immediate ceasefire by all the armed men and militias in North-Kivu," he added. | |
| "There should be establishment of a humanitarian corridor throughout the area to ensure immediate address of the humanitarian situation and tragedy." | |
| Earlier Mr Ban criticised the recent offensive by Gen Laurent Nkunda's CNDP rebels. | |
| "The recent military offensives by the CNDP have radically compounded the situation, led to severe humanitarian consequences and thrust the eastern DRC once more into a phase of heightened crisis. This crisis could engulf the broader sub-region," Mr Ban said, quoted by AFP news agency. | |
| "As leaders of Africa, you have a historic responsibility, it is a critical moment for the Great Lakes region, and for Africa as a whole. We must put the cycle of violence behind us." | "As leaders of Africa, you have a historic responsibility, it is a critical moment for the Great Lakes region, and for Africa as a whole. We must put the cycle of violence behind us." |
| The BBC's Mark Doyle in Nairobi says Mr Ban's words are diplomatic code telling Rwanda to stop supporting Gen Nkunda. | The BBC's Mark Doyle in Nairobi says Mr Ban's words are diplomatic code telling Rwanda to stop supporting Gen Nkunda. |
| However, in a separate development a Uruguayan officer serving with the UN peacekeepers in DR Congo said the government side was being reinforced by Angolan troops. | However, in a separate development a Uruguayan officer serving with the UN peacekeepers in DR Congo said the government side was being reinforced by Angolan troops. |
| The officer spoke to international news agencies in Goma, saying the Angolans had arrived there four days ago. | The officer spoke to international news agencies in Goma, saying the Angolans had arrived there four days ago. |
| Angola is an ally of the Congolese government and has been invited by Mr Kabila to provide military assistance. But its government has said it will not intervene directly. | Angola is an ally of the Congolese government and has been invited by Mr Kabila to provide military assistance. But its government has said it will not intervene directly. |
| Angola and Zimbabwe both supported DR Congo with troops during the 1998-2003 war. | Angola and Zimbabwe both supported DR Congo with troops during the 1998-2003 war. |
| Gen Nkunda is not attending the talks, but he is in contact with the UN and other delegates at the summit. | Gen Nkunda is not attending the talks, but he is in contact with the UN and other delegates at the summit. |
| Kiwanja investigation | Kiwanja investigation |
| UN peacekeepers said gunfire erupted on Friday just north of the city of Goma, where rebel forces halted their offensive last week. | UN peacekeepers said gunfire erupted on Friday just north of the city of Goma, where rebel forces halted their offensive last week. |
| 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 Madnodje MounoubaiUN spokesman Rwanda's role in conflictDiary: Protecting mountain gorillasCongolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance | 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 Madnodje MounoubaiUN spokesman Rwanda's role in conflictDiary: Protecting mountain gorillasCongolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance |
| 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. | |
| The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said the fighting had interrupted the distribution of aid in the town. | The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said the fighting had interrupted the distribution of aid in the town. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| Gen Nkunda defends his military actions | |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| 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 has 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo, making Monuc its largest mission 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. |
| Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to Congo after the 1994 genocide. | |
| Return to top | Return to top |
Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting? | Are you in DR Congo? Have you or your family been affected by the fighting? |
| Send your comments using the post form below, or text 00 44 7725 800 100. | Send your comments using the post form below, or text 00 44 7725 800 100. |
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