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DR Congo deadline may be extended DR Congo rebel deadline extended
(about 1 hour later)
Rebel soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo appear to have been given an extension to a deadline to give up their arms. Rebel soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been given an extension to a deadline to surrender or join the army.
It follows efforts by the head of the UN peacekeeping operation to persuade Congolese President Joseph Kabila to opt for dialogue rather than force.It follows efforts by the head of the UN peacekeeping operation to persuade Congolese President Joseph Kabila to opt for dialogue rather than force.
A BBC correspondent in Goma says the past 24 hours have been tense in eastern Congo.A BBC correspondent in Goma says the past 24 hours have been tense in eastern Congo.
Both the army and rebels accuse each other of breaking a recent ceasefire.Both the army and rebels accuse each other of breaking a recent ceasefire.
Rebel leader, General Laurent Nkunda, says he is willing to integrate his fighters into the army but has refused to surrender or bow to government ultimatums.Rebel leader, General Laurent Nkunda, says he is willing to integrate his fighters into the army but has refused to surrender or bow to government ultimatums.
He says that if certain security conditions are met he is prepared to talk.He says that if certain security conditions are met he is prepared to talk.
Now President Joseph Kabila appears to have softened his stance, in what the BBC's Karen Allen in Goma says is a last ditch attempt to avert an all out military attack to flush out the rebel fighters. Defence Minister Chikez Diemu confirmed that the deadline had been extended:
"We've given 21 more days to the soldiers who have been taken hostage by this criminal, Nkunda, to rejoin the process of integrating into the army and return to a normal soldier's life."
He said the aim was to give more time to a process of disarmament that had already made significant progress - with 1,200 fighters defecting from General Nkunda's movement in the last few days and more expected to follow.
Diplomatic pressure
Sylvie Van Den Wildenberg, spokeswoman for the United Nations peacekeeping force, Monuc, told the BBC that the Congolese government appears to have backed down for the moment:
"I don't think we are going to get a big threat of a major offensive right now at least... As far as we understood, the government is quite encouraged by the results of the three weeks exercise that we've just been through."
She added that the government was "very clear that they want to launch a call to the combatants to disassociate from General Nkunda and he should pay for his crimes".
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
An intense day of talks with foreign diplomats and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission, William Swing, ended with a fresh appeal for General Nkunda's fighters to turn themselves in or join the regular army. The BBC's Karen Allen in Goma says this is a last ditch attempt to avert an all out military attack to flush out the rebel fighters, and is the result of intense diplomatic pressure on Mr Kabila to consider dialogue rather than brute force.
If the government holds off launching its threatened offensive for several days or even weeks, more rebels who the government considers to have been taken hostage by the General Nkunda would be able to disarm. She says the government is trying to disassociate fighters from General Nkunda, in an effort to isolate him, but it is not clear when negotiations will restart as skirmishes are continuing.
Government sources say 1,200 fighters have defected from General Nkunda's movement in the last few days and the expectation is that more will follow. UN officials have reported renewed fighting in the north eastern towns of Rutshuru and Kalengera.
The deadline extension follows an intense day of talks with foreign diplomats and the head of the UN peacekeeping mission, William Swing, which ended with a fresh appeal for General Nkunda's fighters to turn themselves in or join the regular army.
General Nkunda says he is defending the ethnic Tutsi minority, and accuses the government of having the backing of Hutu militias who fled Congo after the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda.General Nkunda says he is defending the ethnic Tutsi minority, and accuses the government of having the backing of Hutu militias who fled Congo after the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda.
More than 370,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since the start of the year in a growing humanitarian crisis.More than 370,000 people have been displaced by the fighting since the start of the year in a growing humanitarian crisis.