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DR Congo rebel leader 'arrested' DR Congo rebel leader 'arrested'
(about 2 hours 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 largest 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 entered DR Congo on Tuesday to help government forces disarm Rwandan Hutu FDLR rebels.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.
He has always said he was protecting his community against the FDLR. He has, says the BBC's Africa analyst, Martin Plaut, been caught in the rapidly changing diplomatic situation in Central Africa.
The general was detained after troops converged on his stronghold in the Congolese town of Bunagana. Gen Nkunda had been Rwanda's ally in eastern DR Congo - a Tutsi, he guarded their Western flank against attacks from the Hutu forces who fled there after the Rwandan genocide of 1994. name="top"> name="text"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area
"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. But in mid-November Rwanda shifted its position, announcing it would work with the Congolese to destroy the Hutu rebels.
Gen Nkunda did not back the new alliance and so became an impediment to Rwandan plans in the region, causing Rwanda to turn on him.
The decision earlier this month by a group of Gen Nkunda's top commanders to break away and join forces with government troops gave them their opportunity, our correspondent adds.
'Good achievement'
The rebel leader was detained in Rwanda 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. Both government and rebel forces have been accused of war crimes Profile: General Laurent NkundaFace-to-face with rebel chiefQ&A: DR Congo conflict
Rebels with him were being urged to disarm, reports 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.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."I think it is a good achievement for peace and security in this area and this region of Great Lakes," he said.
Regional war Some of Gen Nkunda's forces - perhaps as many as 2,000 - are still said to be loyal to him.
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 question now is whether they will fight, or whether they will join the new consensus and become integrated into the Congolese army, correspondents say.
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. 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 both a humanitarian crisis and a wider regional war.
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 Profile: General Laurent NkundaFace-to-face with rebel chiefQ&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.
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.
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