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DR Congo rebels in new stand-off DR Congo rebels in new stand-off
(about 18 hours later)
A tense stand-off has developed in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between government troops and rebels loyal to Gen Laurent Nkunda. Army reinforcements have been sent to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an offensive is planned against a renegade general's forces.
Government forces are advancing towards the rebel stronghold of Mushaki, a BBC reporter at the scene says. General Laurent Nkunda rejects Monday's ultimatum to disband his forces.
Gen Nkunda says he will ignore a Monday deadline to start disbanding his army, and called for talks. He says he is willing to integrate his fighters into the army but insists his forces will not surrender under attack and has called for talks.
But President Joseph Kabila, who flew to the region, was not interested in negotiations, a spokesman said. Negotiations have been rejected by President Joseph Kabila, who arrived in the eastern city of Goma on Sunday.
The president "is not going along with this negotiations story any more" and would stamp out rebel violence in the east, spokesman Kudura Kasongo told Reuters news agency. More than 370,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since the start of the year.
President Kabila "is not going along with this negotiations story any more" and is going to stamp out rebel violence in the east, government spokesman Kudura Kasongo told Reuters news agency.
"The head of state, with his government, has decided to end this situation of insecurity," he added."The head of state, with his government, has decided to end this situation of insecurity," he added.
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 generalKEY 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
But in an interview with the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman, Gen Nkunda said that if the government were to attack Mushaki, "we will defend ourselves". In an interview with the BBC, Gen Nkunda said that he had sent an envoy to meet President Kabila in Goma to try and avoid conflict and agree a ceasefire but he had not had a reply as yet.
He said he was not ready to integrate his men into the government army and vowed to defend his position. "We cannot integrate (our army) under fire."
He said eastern Congo was occupied by "negative forces" - a reference to Hutu rebel groups. Earlier, Gen Nkunda said that if the government were to attack his stronghold of Mushaki, "we will defend ourselves".
He portrays himself as the defender of the local Tutsi ethnic minority against Hutu militants who have been operating in the area since fleeing Rwanda after the Tutsi genocide there.
"This is not normal and the government must accept to discuss this issue," he said."This is not normal and the government must accept to discuss this issue," he said.
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.""We ask the government to protect the Tutsi."
Karuba captureKaruba capture
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.
Dr Congo's government sees Gen Nkunda as a criminal, and does not regard him as a legitimate negotiating partner, our correspondent reports. More than 300,000 people have sought shelter in camps
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 also 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.
Gen Nkunda accuses the army of getting backing from Hutu militias. In turn, the finger is pointed at Rwanda for giving tacit support to Nkunda's men.
The tensions in the east are increasingly being seen as a proxy war between Rwanda's rival Tutsi and Hutu communities being fought on Congolese soil, says the BBC's Karen Allen in Goma.
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.
Commentators have warned that without a concerted effort to talk peace now, Congo could rapidly slide into its third war in a decade.