Rebel leader wants peace talks

2008-11-16 23:08

Goma - The rebel leader in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo wants peace talks and has agreed to the establishment of a three-way body to monitor a ceasefire, the UN special envoy said amid fresh fighting on Sunday.

"[Rebel leader general Laurent] Nkunda reaffirms that he believes in a ceasefire being implemented and respected by both sides," former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo said in Goma, capital of Nord-Kivu province, after meeting Nkunda.

Obasanjo's groundbreaking meeting with Nkunda came as UN officials warned that the plight of an estimated 250 000 people displaced by continuing fighting was becoming increasingly desperate.

Fighting continued on Sunday between government forces and Nkunda's CNDP rebels in a strategic town and a patrol of United Nations forces nearby found itself trapped in crossfire.

MONUC ruled out

Nkunda appeared to rule out the possibility that the UN mission in Congo (MONUC) might be part of a tripartite committee that would monitor a ceasefire.

Two of the members would be representatives of the Nkunda's rebel CNDP and of the government, Obasanjo said.

"That third group, I thought it would be MONUC, but he objected to MONUC as an institution, he doesn't object to an individual," Obasanjo told a news conference on his return to Goma after visiting rebel-held territory for his two-hour meeting with Nkunda.

"He accepts the UN special envoy as a mediator between his side and the government side," he added.

"He wants the government to accept responsibility for a ceasefire by what he called government allies.

"I said: You cannot accept responsibility for the action of your allies.

"We should go for what I suggested: a tripartite committee on verification on ceasefire violations. He agreed to that."

Nkunda's rebels claim that government forces are being aided by Hutu rebels and local militiamen.

Nkunda said after his meeting with Obasanjo: "Today is a great day for us because we were losing many men and now we have a message of peace.

"We should work with this mission."

- AFP