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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Congolese await 'historic' deal | Congolese await 'historic' deal |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and armed groups in the east is due to be signed at a ceremony in Goma. | A peace agreement between the Democratic Republic of Congo government and armed groups in the east is due to be signed at a ceremony in Goma. |
| The deal includes an immediate ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of all rebel forces from North Kivu and the resettlement of thousands of villagers. | The deal includes an immediate ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of all rebel forces from North Kivu and the resettlement of thousands of villagers. |
| Correspondents say the fate of rebel Gen Laurent Nkunda, wanted for war crimes, is not included in the pact. | Correspondents say the fate of rebel Gen Laurent Nkunda, wanted for war crimes, is not included in the pact. |
| Human Rights Watch's Anneke Van Woudenberg says the deal is "historic". | Human Rights Watch's Anneke Van Woudenberg says the deal is "historic". |
| Talks involving the Dr Congo government and more than 20 rebel groups have been under way for more than two weeks and sponsored by the United States, the European Union and the African Union. | Talks involving the Dr Congo government and more than 20 rebel groups have been under way for more than two weeks and sponsored by the United States, the European Union and the African Union. |
| The deal aims to end months of bloody conflict around the town of Goma, which has driven over 450,000 people from their homes in the last year. | The deal aims to end months of bloody conflict around the town of Goma, which has driven over 450,000 people from their homes in the last year. |
| Warrant | Warrant |
| Journalist Justin Dralaze at the conference told the BBC that the deal gives amnesty to all fighting groups, but it is not clear what will happen to Mr Nkunda. | Journalist Justin Dralaze at the conference told the BBC that the deal gives amnesty to all fighting groups, but it is not clear what will happen to Mr Nkunda. |
| There has been talk that Gen Nkunda could be integrated into the army or sent into exile. | There has been talk that Gen Nkunda could be integrated into the army or sent into exile. |
| Profile: Gen Nkunda | Profile: Gen Nkunda |
| He leads the main rebel movement in the area and his forces repulsed a major government offensive last December. | He leads the main rebel movement in the area and his forces repulsed a major government offensive last December. |
| The government has issued an international arrest warrant against Gen Nkunda, for alleged war crimes committed by his forces. | The government has issued an international arrest warrant against Gen Nkunda, for alleged war crimes committed by his forces. |
| The renegade general claims his forces are protecting ethnic Tutsis in North Kivu province from Rwandan Hutu rebels - both Interahamwe militia and former Rwandan armed forces - who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. | The renegade general claims his forces are protecting ethnic Tutsis in North Kivu province from Rwandan Hutu rebels - both Interahamwe militia and former Rwandan armed forces - who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. |
| Some of these Hutu fighters now form the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group. | Some of these Hutu fighters now form the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) rebel group. |
| Mr Dralaze says it is also not clear whether the issue of the FDLR and Interahamwe is going to be dealt with in the peace agreement. | Mr Dralaze says it is also not clear whether the issue of the FDLR and Interahamwe is going to be dealt with in the peace agreement. |
| Many groups, he says, want these militia to be disarmed and returned to Rwanda as they do not believe the Congolese army will protect their communities. | Many groups, he says, want these militia to be disarmed and returned to Rwanda as they do not believe the Congolese army will protect their communities. |
| The Interahamwe were supposed to be disarmed under the terms of the 2002 peace deal which ended DR Congo's five-year civil war. | The Interahamwe were supposed to be disarmed under the terms of the 2002 peace deal which ended DR Congo's five-year civil war. |
| Aid | Aid |
| President Joseph Kabila is in Goma, but has not attended the talks personally, neither has Gen Nkunda. | President Joseph Kabila is in Goma, but has not attended the talks personally, neither has Gen Nkunda. |
| It will be an important foundation for bringing peace and ending the suffering of so many thousands of people HRW's Anneke Van Woudenberg Voices of violence class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4127&edition=1">Have Your Say | |
| Once signed, United Nations troops would keep the two sides apart, moving into 13 positions vacated by the rebels. | Once signed, United Nations troops would keep the two sides apart, moving into 13 positions vacated by the rebels. |
| And within a week specialist advisers would fly in from the US, the UK and Europe, to try to work on the details. | And within a week specialist advisers would fly in from the US, the UK and Europe, to try to work on the details. |
| The EU is promising $150m of aid to reconstruct the region, which has been devastated by the fighting. | The EU is promising $150m of aid to reconstruct the region, which has been devastated by the fighting. |
| "This is increasingly looking like an historic moment for eastern Congo," Ms van Woudenberg of Human Rights Watch said. | "This is increasingly looking like an historic moment for eastern Congo," Ms van Woudenberg of Human Rights Watch said. |
| "If the agreement is signed it will be an important foundation for bringing peace and ending the suffering of so many thousands of people." | "If the agreement is signed it will be an important foundation for bringing peace and ending the suffering of so many thousands of people." |