| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa: Subsaharan |
| Peacekeepers fire on troops at river-border |
| 2004-12-15 |
| United Nations peacekeepers have fired on troops trying to enter the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) from Rwanda, the UN-funded radio station Radio Okapi reported on Wednesday. The last weeks have seen accusations flying between the Congolese and Rwandan capitals, with Kinshasa claiming Rwanda has sent troops into Congo, and Kigali denying it, but sticking to an earlier declaration that they intend to disarm Rwandan Hutu rebels in the eastern part of the DRC. According to Radio Okapi, UN peacekeepers early on Wednesday morning encountered a number of soldiers in canoes trying to cross the Ruzizi river between the two countries. Quoting UN military sources, Radio Okapi said the troops in the canoes coming from the Rwandan side of the river had opened fire on the peacekeepers, who returned fire, making the intruders turn back. When contacted by Deutsche Presse Agentur, Monuc, the UN peacekeeping mission in DRC, declined to comment on the incident. Meanwhile, reports say fighting has restarted near the town of Kanyabayonga, also in eastern DRC, between regular Congolese army troops and dissident forces. The British Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday that an estimated 35 000 people have fled the town and surrounding area after fighting broke out over the weekend. The dissident Congolese forces that now control Kanyabayonga have said they used to receive assistance from Rwanda, but are now fighting independently. |
| Posted by:Steve |