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DR Congo rebel leader 'arrested' DR Congo rebel leader 'arrested'
(about 1 hour later)
Gen Laurent Nkunda, the leader of the main rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has been arrested, the military says.Gen Laurent Nkunda, the leader of the main rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, has been arrested, the military says.
He was arrested as he fled into Rwanda while trying to resist a joint Rwandan-Congolese military operation, the operation's joint command said.He was arrested as he fled into Rwanda while trying to resist a joint Rwandan-Congolese military operation, the operation's joint command said.
Some 3,500 Rwandan troops crossed the border to help Congolese forces disarm Rwandan Hutu FDLR rebels there. Some 3,500 Rwandan troops entered DR Congo on Tuesday to help government forces disarm Rwandan Hutu FDLR rebels.
Gen Nkunda has been leading the rival CNDP Tutsi insurgency.Gen Nkunda has been leading the rival CNDP Tutsi insurgency.
"The joint operations command... informs the public that the ex-general Laurent Nkunda was arrested on Thursday, January 22 at 2230 hours while he was fleeing on Rwandan territory after he had resisted our troops at Bunagana with three battalions," a Congolese-Rwandan official statement said. He has always said he was protecting his community against the FDLR.
It added that the rebels were being urged to disarm. The general was detained after troops converged on his stronghold in the Congolese town of Bunagana.
"The ex-general Laurent Nkunda was arrested on Thursday 22 January at 2230 hours while he was fleeing on Rwandan territory after he had resisted our troops at Bunagana with three battalions," a Congolese-Rwandan official statement said.
Rebels with him were being urged to disarm, reports said.
A spokesman for the Congolese government, Lambert Mende, told the BBC he welcomed the arrest.
"I think it is a good achievement for peace and security in this area and this region of Great Lakes," he said.
Regional warRegional war
Gen Nkunda is being detained in Rwanda, and is expected to be handed over to Congolese authorities soon, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from Goma in DR Congo's North Kivu province.Gen Nkunda is being detained in Rwanda, and is expected to be handed over to Congolese authorities soon, the BBC's Karen Allen reports from Goma in DR Congo's North Kivu province.
The CNDP launched a major offensive in August, which displaced more than a quarter of a million people in North Kivu and raised fears of a wider regional war. His leadership appeared to have been eroded in recent weeks, our correspondent adds. Earlier this month a breakaway group of his rebel officers announced a ceasefire with government forces.
Gen Nkunda and his group says they are fighting to protect the Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels based in DR Congo, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide. The CNDP launched a major offensive in August 2007, which displaced more than a quarter of a million people in North Kivu and raised fears of a wider regional war. Both government and rebel forces have been accused of war crimes class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3786883.stm">Profile: General Laurent Nkunda class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7721205.stm">Face-to-face with rebel chief class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3075537.stm">Q&A: DR Congo conflict
Gen Nkunda and his group say they are fighting to protect the Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels based in DR Congo, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide.
The Congolese government has often promised to stop the Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.The Congolese government has often promised to stop the Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.
Both government and rebel forces have been accused of war crimes Profile: General Laurent NkundaFace-to-face with rebel chiefQ&A: DR Congo conflict
However, others see the CNDP as a Rwandan proxy and the biggest reason why DR Congo is yet to benefit from landmark elections in 2006 intended to draw a line under decades of conflict.However, others see the CNDP as a Rwandan proxy and the biggest reason why DR Congo is yet to benefit from landmark elections in 2006 intended to draw a line under decades of conflict.
Human rights group have accused CNDP forces, along with those of the government, of numerous killings, rapes and torture.Human rights group have accused CNDP forces, along with those of the government, of numerous killings, rapes and torture.
Talks in Kenya aimed at ending the conflict became deadlocked last month, with UN mediator Olusegun Obasanjo complaining that the CNDP's negotiators lacked the authority to make concessions.