UN Reports More Fighting In Eastern Congo
The fighting erupted in the Masisi region, roughly 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the Nord-Kivu provincial capital of Goma, said Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich, a spokesman for the U.N.'s peacekeeping mission MONUC.
The conflict took place as Nkunda reportedly denied any knowledge of it during talks with U.N. special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, tapped to broker peace in the region.
"We have witnessed a CNDP advance near Masisi over the past few days," Dietrich said, referring to Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of the People rebel group.
"The (government forces) have warned they would interview if this rebel advance continues," he added.
The Mai Mai were forced to retreat from Masisi's center under rebel pressure, sowing panic among locals, Dietrich said. U.N. peacekeepers stationed there managed to calm residents and established contact with both sides, he said.
But Nkunda claimed to have no knowledge of the fighting when he met with Obasanjo Saturday afternoon, said a U.N. official, who declined to be identified. Mai Mai and other pro-government militia groups also attended the talks.
"The question of Masisi was brought up by the delegation to Nkunda but he denied all knowledge of it. He said it was FDLR provocation," the official told AFP, referring to Hutu rebels.
Nkunda's rebels have insisted they are respecting a ceasefire, despite clashes with Mai-Mai fighters that sent thousands of civilians fleeing into neighboring Uganda on Friday.
The country's restive east erupted into new violence in August, pitting Nkunda's forces against government troops and allied Mai-Mai and Hutu militia. The fighting has displaced roughly 250,000 people and creating a humanitarian disaster.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 29, 2008 13:09 ET (18:09 GMT)
Publié le 29 novembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones
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