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| Congo's Nkunda rejects ultimatum | Congo's Nkunda rejects ultimatum |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Democratic Republic of Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has told the BBC he will ignore Monday's deadline to start disbanding his forces. | Democratic Republic of Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has told the BBC he will ignore Monday's deadline to start disbanding his forces. |
| He said more talks with the government were necessary before his troops could be integrated into the government army. | He said more talks with the government were necessary before his troops could be integrated into the government army. |
| Gen Nkunda also said he would be prepared to leave the country if certain conditions were met. | Gen Nkunda also said he would be prepared to leave the country if certain conditions were met. |
| After a week of heavy fighting in the east, government forces are within 1km of the rebel stronghold of Mushaki. | After a week of heavy fighting in the east, government forces are within 1km of the rebel stronghold of Mushaki. |
| KEY FORCES IN THE KIVUS FLNK - new group made up mainly of Congolese Mai Mai with some Rwandan Hutus formerly in the FDLRFDLR - Hutu militia made up of former Rwandan soldiers and others who fled into Congo after the 1994 genocideCongolese armyGen Laurent Nkunda, with an estimated 5,000 soldiers Monuc - UN Mission in the DR Congo Profile: Renegade general | KEY FORCES IN THE KIVUS FLNK - new group made up mainly of Congolese Mai Mai with some Rwandan Hutus formerly in the FDLRFDLR - Hutu militia made up of former Rwandan soldiers and others who fled into Congo after the 1994 genocideCongolese armyGen Laurent Nkunda, with an estimated 5,000 soldiers Monuc - UN Mission in the DR Congo Profile: Renegade general |
| In an interview with the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman, Gen Nkunda said that if the government were to attack Mushaki, "we will defend ourselves". | |
| He said eastern Congo was occupied by "negative forces": a reference to Hutu rebel groups. | |
| "This is not normal, and the government must accept to discuss this issue," he said. | |
| Refugees | |
| Gen Nkunda said he wanted discussions on the return of Congolese Tutsi refugees from neighbouring countries such as Rwanda and Burundi. | |
| "Other refugees are coming back, but the Tutsi are not coming back," he said. | |
| "We ask the government to protect the Tutsi." | |
| Both the army and Gen Nkunda accuse each other of breaking a recent ceasefire. | Both the army and Gen Nkunda accuse each other of breaking a recent ceasefire. |
| Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect DR Congo's Tutsi minority and has accused the government of supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) - Hutus who fled to DR Congo fearing reprisals from the Tutsi-led government that took control of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide. | Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect DR Congo's Tutsi minority and has accused the government of supporting the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) - Hutus who fled to DR Congo fearing reprisals from the Tutsi-led government that took control of Rwanda after the 1994 genocide. |
| The fighting in North Kivu province has raised concerns about thousands of displaced people who have been forced out of their homes. | The fighting in North Kivu province has raised concerns about thousands of displaced people who have been forced out of their homes. |
| Aid workers say people are heading further north into rebel-held territory, where they are now unable to reach them. | Aid workers say people are heading further north into rebel-held territory, where they are now unable to reach them. |
| The army scored their first real victory against Gen Nkunda's forces with the capture of Karuba last week. | The army scored their first real victory against Gen Nkunda's forces with the capture of Karuba last week. |
| Government soldiers have taken up positions on the road south of Mushaki and on the surrounding mountains. | Government soldiers have taken up positions on the road south of Mushaki and on the surrounding mountains. |
| A five-year war in DR Congo ended in 2003, but the 17,600 UN peacekeepers in the country (4,300 of them in North Kivu alone) have struggled to keep a lid on instability since then. | A five-year war in DR Congo ended in 2003, but the 17,600 UN peacekeepers in the country (4,300 of them in North Kivu alone) have struggled to keep a lid on instability since then. |