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| Congo rebels seize gorilla park | Congo rebels seize gorilla park |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken control of large parts of the Virunga National Park, home to rare mountain gorillas. | Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken control of large parts of the Virunga National Park, home to rare mountain gorillas. |
| The move has raised fears for the fate of the gorillas. Only 700 remain - half of which are in Virunga. | The move has raised fears for the fate of the gorillas. Only 700 remain - half of which are in Virunga. |
| Meanwhile, the army says it has killed at least 28 troops loyal to rebel General Laurent Nkunda in the latest fighting in eastern DR Congo. | Meanwhile, the army says it has killed at least 28 troops loyal to rebel General Laurent Nkunda in the latest fighting in eastern DR Congo. |
| Some 170,000 people have fled the area this year, says the UN refugee agency. | Some 170,000 people have fled the area this year, says the UN refugee agency. |
| "If anything happens to the mountain gorillas now, there is nothing we can do," said Norbert Mushenzi of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). | "If anything happens to the mountain gorillas now, there is nothing we can do," said Norbert Mushenzi of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). |
| "As of today, the sector is no longer under my control and we have been rendered powerless by these actions." | "As of today, the sector is no longer under my control and we have been rendered powerless by these actions." |
| Nine gorillas have been killed this year, allegedly by Gen Nkunda's men, sparking outrage among conservationists. | Nine gorillas have been killed this year, allegedly by Gen Nkunda's men, sparking outrage among conservationists. |
| 'State of war' | 'State of war' |
| Gen Nkunda's forces are believed to have moved into the park in pursuit of Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have bases there. | Gen Nkunda's forces are believed to have moved into the park in pursuit of Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have bases there. |
| Officials from local conservation group, Wildlife Direct, say the forces looted weapons and communication equipment from Jomba and Bikenge ranger patrol posts within the park. | Officials from local conservation group, Wildlife Direct, say the forces looted weapons and communication equipment from Jomba and Bikenge ranger patrol posts within the park. |
| Diary: Protecting gorillas | Diary: Protecting gorillas |
| A third post, Bukima, was being evacuated for fear of imminent attack, the group said. | A third post, Bukima, was being evacuated for fear of imminent attack, the group said. |
| Gen Nkunda, a Tutsi, has accused the government of forming an alliance against him with the Hutu FDLR, accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis. | Gen Nkunda, a Tutsi, has accused the government of forming an alliance against him with the Hutu FDLR, accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis. |
| After Tutsis took control in Rwanda, they crossed the border into eastern DR Congo. | After Tutsis took control in Rwanda, they crossed the border into eastern DR Congo. |
| Over the weekend, Gen Nkunda told the BBC there was a "state of war" in North Kivu. | Over the weekend, Gen Nkunda told the BBC there was a "state of war" in North Kivu. |
| The United Nations says up to 10,000 people have fled fighting into Uganda. | The United Nations says up to 10,000 people have fled fighting into Uganda. |
| The UN refugee agency says it is organising shelter for those who fled the violence Monday night and wish to stay on the Ugandan side of the frontier. | The UN refugee agency says it is organising shelter for those who fled the violence Monday night and wish to stay on the Ugandan side of the frontier. |
| Following a visit by Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande to Kinshasa, DR Congo has promised to increase its operations against the FDLR. | Following a visit by Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande to Kinshasa, DR Congo has promised to increase its operations against the FDLR. |
| Rwanda has twice invaded its large neighbour, saying it is trying to stop the FDLR from attacking its territory. | Rwanda has twice invaded its large neighbour, saying it is trying to stop the FDLR from attacking its territory. |
| Peacekeepers | Peacekeepers |
| BBC Kinshasa correspondent Arnaud Zajtman says that the two countries are still divided by the same issues - DR Congo wants Rwanda to reign in Tutsi fighters, such as Gen Nkunda, while Rwanda wants DR Congo to stop the activities of the Hutu rebels, known as the FDLR. | BBC Kinshasa correspondent Arnaud Zajtman says that the two countries are still divided by the same issues - DR Congo wants Rwanda to reign in Tutsi fighters, such as Gen Nkunda, while Rwanda wants DR Congo to stop the activities of the Hutu rebels, known as the FDLR. |
| Gen Nkunda says he is protecting ethnic TutsisLast month, Rwanda protested against DR Congo's move to call off an offensive against the FDLR. | Gen Nkunda says he is protecting ethnic TutsisLast month, Rwanda protested against DR Congo's move to call off an offensive against the FDLR. |
| Mr Murigande and his Congolese counterpart Mbusa Nyamwisi also asked the UN to intensify patrols in the east of the country where fighting is raging. | Mr Murigande and his Congolese counterpart Mbusa Nyamwisi also asked the UN to intensify patrols in the east of the country where fighting is raging. |
| The UN has some 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo - the largest such force in the world and has sent an extra 200 troops to the region after the latest fighting. | The UN has some 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo - the largest such force in the world and has sent an extra 200 troops to the region after the latest fighting. |
| Our reporter says the ministers have also agreed to form a commission to ensure that Congolese ethnic Tutsis who are refugees in Rwanda are repatriated. |