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DR Congo peacekeepers âcan leaveâ
EFL - Sounds like the DR Congo is ready to solo.Security in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is improving so fast that United Nations troops can leave this year, President Joseph Kabila has said. He told the BBC that the peacekeepers should instead start training DR Congoâs army and police force. Really weâre OK now. We can finish this ourselves, thank you. Some 10,000 UN troops are in DR Congo to monitor a peace deal which ended almost five years of war. Former rebels have joined a power-sharing government, tasked with organising elections next year. Mr Kabila also insisted that these elections would go ahead as planned. In January, the head of the UN mission in DR Congo said it was possible "on a technical level" to hold the poll on schedule. Kabila insists that elections will be held next year. However William Swing said it depended on the political will, which was "less certain". Despite the peace deal, parts of eastern DR Congo in particular remain dangerous with many different armed groups killing, raping and looting. Last week, UN troops were attacked there and more than 100 boat passengers were killed in January. Funny that they would want the UN to leave with security still a little dicey.
Posted by: Super Hose 2004-02-09 |
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| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=25897 |