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DRC and Uganda presidents to meet DRC and Uganda ease oil tensions
(about 17 hours later)
Tensions over oil exploration will top the agenda at talks on Saturday between the presidents of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have agreed to pull troops from their common border to ease tensions over the oil-rich Lake Albert.
The two nations are at loggerheads over oil drilling beneath Lake Albert, which straddles their borders. The deal to withdraw troops immediately was signed by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and DR Congo President Joseph Kabila as they held talks in Tanzania.
Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila will meet in Tanzania. The leaders agreed to co-operate on oil exploration in Lake Albert and to lay a joint pipeline to distribute any oil.
The two countries have gone to war twice in the recent past, each accusing the other of harbouring rebels. Uganda has twice invaded DR Congo, saying it was harbouring rebels.
In the past month alone, skirmishes along the border have killed at least four people, including a British oil contractor. In the past month alone, skirmishes along the border have killed at least four people - three Ugandans and a British oil contractor.
Invasions Border lines
The Congolese Foreign Minister Mbusa Nyamisi has accused Uganda of prospecting illegally in Congolese waters and said any oil under Lake Albert should be exploited jointly. At the meeting in the north-eastern Tanzanian town of Arusha, Mr Museveni and Mr Kabila agreed to move their troops 150km (90 miles) from their mutual border.
In October, Mr Museveni announced Uganda had found oil in the lake area. We are determined to see long-term peace reign among the two countries. Next time we meet, we won't discuss about border problems, but we will be discussing developmental issues Joseph KabilaDR Congo president
He said production could begin in 2009 with initial output of up to 10,000 barrels a day. They will also move refugee camps 150km from the border to improve security, Ugandan Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Kutesa said.
A joint team will draw up borders within contested areas of the lake as part of the deal.
Mr Museveni and Mr Kabila agreed to meet once a year to improve bilateral ties.
"Black Africans are always at each other's throats," Mr Kabila said.
"We are determined to see long-term peace reign among the two countries. Next time we meet, we won't discuss about border problems, but we will be discussing developmental issues."
In October, Mr Museveni announced Uganda had found oil in the lake area, saying production could begin in 2009 with initial output of up to 10,000 barrels a day.
Relations between the two countries remain fraught - Uganda has twice invaded Congo, claiming it wanted to flush out Ugandan rebels.Relations between the two countries remain fraught - Uganda has twice invaded Congo, claiming it wanted to flush out Ugandan rebels.
The second invasion sparked a 1998-2003 war that drew in five other countries.The second invasion sparked a 1998-2003 war that drew in five other countries.
The eastern part of DRC remains unstable amid recent fighting between a rogue Congolese general and government forces which has created tens of thousands of refugees. Rebel integration
Meanwhile, the United Nations has urged dissident DR Congo troops to re-join the country's army.
Thousands of DRC refugees have entered Uganda amid rebel clashes
The eastern part of DR Congo remains unstable amid recent fighting between rogue Congolese Gen Laurent Nkunda and government forces.
Maj-Gen Bikram Singh, commander of the UN DR Congo peacekeeping mission (Monuc), encouraged Gen Nkunda's troops to reintegrate into the army and help restore peace to the country.
An earlier attempt to reintegrate the rebels a few months ago failed.
Though a ceasefire is in place, there are real doubts whether it can hold, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Goma.
There have been reports of skirmishes near Virunga national park, home to Congo's famous mountain gorillas, and the army and Monuc are watching developments closely, our correspondent says.
Up to 35,000 DR Congo refugees have entered Uganda since Monday due to the fighting, the UN has said.