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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Amnesty law for DR Congo militias | Amnesty law for DR Congo militias |
| (4 days later) | |
| MPs in the Democratic Republic of Congo have passed a law granting amnesty to militias in the east of the country. | MPs in the Democratic Republic of Congo have passed a law granting amnesty to militias in the east of the country. |
| It is the culmination of various deals to bring peace to the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, a BBC correspondent in Kinshasa says. | It is the culmination of various deals to bring peace to the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, a BBC correspondent in Kinshasa says. |
| It will include "acts of war" committed since 2003 but does not offer amnesty to those accused of war crimes such as rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. | It will include "acts of war" committed since 2003 but does not offer amnesty to those accused of war crimes such as rebel leader Laurent Nkunda. |
| Gen Nkunda remains in detention in Rwanda since his arrest in January. | Gen Nkunda remains in detention in Rwanda since his arrest in January. |
| DR Congo has applied for his extradition. | DR Congo has applied for his extradition. |
| A Tutsi like Rwanda's leaders, Gen Nkunda had guarded Rwanda's western flank against attacks by ethnic Rwandan Hutu rebels - the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) - some of whose leaders have been linked to the 1994 Rwandan genocide. | |
| Government spokesman Lambert Mende told the BBC the amnesty would only to apply to Congolese militia and would not cover crimes committed by foreign rebel groups. | Government spokesman Lambert Mende told the BBC the amnesty would only to apply to Congolese militia and would not cover crimes committed by foreign rebel groups. |
| Boycott | Boycott |
| The legislation, passed by 298 votes to 29, will take effect after being signed into law by President Joseph Kabila, AFP news agency reports. | |
| The BBC's Thomas Fessy says some opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote on the grounds that the amnesty should apply nationally. | The BBC's Thomas Fessy says some opposition lawmakers boycotted the vote on the grounds that the amnesty should apply nationally. |
| Despite elections in 2006, won by Mr Kabila, the east of the country has been plagued by continued insecurity. | Despite elections in 2006, won by Mr Kabila, the east of the country has been plagued by continued insecurity. |
| The on-and-off fighting between rebel groups, the army and pro-government militias has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. | The on-and-off fighting between rebel groups, the army and pro-government militias has forced hundreds of thousands of people from their homes. |
| Observers say this law may bring eastern DR Congo closer to peace. | Observers say this law may bring eastern DR Congo closer to peace. |
| It may well convince former rebels who have not joined the national army to do so, our reporter says. | It may well convince former rebels who have not joined the national army to do so, our reporter says. |
| A delegation from the rebel group formerly led by Mr Nkunda is holding talks with government officials in Kinshasa to discuss the implementation of the peace deal. | A delegation from the rebel group formerly led by Mr Nkunda is holding talks with government officials in Kinshasa to discuss the implementation of the peace deal. |
| Since their former leader was arrested, the movement has appointed a new head and it is to be officially recognised as a political party. | Since their former leader was arrested, the movement has appointed a new head and it is to be officially recognised as a political party. |