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| Eastern Congo peace deal signed | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A peace pact has been signed in Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo by the government and armed groups. | |
| The Mai Mai militia and dissident rebel general Laurent Nkunda finally agreed to sign after long negotiations. | The Mai Mai militia and dissident rebel general Laurent Nkunda finally agreed to sign after long negotiations. |
| The deal includes an immediate ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of all rebel forces in North Kivu province and resettlement of thousands of villagers. | The deal includes an immediate ceasefire, the phased withdrawal of all rebel forces in North Kivu province and resettlement of thousands of villagers. |
| It aims to end months of bloody conflict in the east which has driven almost 500,000 people from their homes. | It aims to end months of bloody conflict in the east which has driven almost 500,000 people from their homes. |
| One observer called the pact "historic". | One observer called the pact "historic". |
| The different factions had said they were ready to demobilise after seeing the peace deal on Monday but then disagreements emerged. | The different factions had said they were ready to demobilise after seeing the peace deal on Monday but then disagreements emerged. |
| Talks involving the government and more than 20 rebel groups lasted more than two weeks and were sponsored by the United States, the European Union and the African Union. | Talks involving the government and more than 20 rebel groups lasted more than two weeks and were sponsored by the United States, the European Union and the African Union. |
| The ceremony was attended by President Joseph Kabila and witnessed by reporters. Surviving Congo: In pictures Profile: Gen NkundaHave Your Say | The ceremony was attended by President Joseph Kabila and witnessed by reporters. Surviving Congo: In pictures Profile: Gen NkundaHave Your Say |
| War and related crises in the central African country is claiming 45,000 lives a month, according to an aid agency. | War and related crises in the central African country is claiming 45,000 lives a month, according to an aid agency. |
| The International Rescue Committee says the death toll in the past decade has surpassed any conflict since World War II - 5.4m. | The International Rescue Committee says the death toll in the past decade has surpassed any conflict since World War II - 5.4m. |
| The deal would grant amnesty to all fighting groups, but it is not clear what will happen to Mr Nkunda, who has not attended the talks. | The deal would grant amnesty to all fighting groups, but it is not clear what will happen to Mr Nkunda, who has not attended the talks. |
| There were suggestions that Gen Nkunda could be integrated into the army or sent into exile. | There were suggestions that Gen Nkunda could be integrated into the army or sent into exile. |
| 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. |
| He claims his forces are protecting ethnic Tutsis in North Kivu from Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. | He claims his forces are protecting ethnic Tutsis in North Kivu from Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. |