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DRC

CNDP declares ceasefire

Article published on the 2008-10-29 Latest update 2008-10-29 18:05 TU

U.N. peacekeepers hiking near Kibati, 12km north of Goma(Photo: Reuters)

U.N. peacekeepers hiking near Kibati, 12km north of Goma
(Photo: Reuters)

A statement signed by Laurent Nkunda said on Wednesday that the CNDP had decided "to proclaim a unilateral ceasefire (...) between it and the governing coalition and Monuc". The rebel group, which is led by Nkunda, said it took the decision "to avoid panicking the population of Goma".

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This came as French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said France supported the sending of an EU force of up to 1,500 troops to the east of the DRC. Kouchner said he hoped the French presidency of the EU would make a proposal in the coming days.

He said however that "for the time being, a certain number of countries have refused."

UN chief Ban Ki-moon said on Wednesday that he was "particularly alarmed at reports of exchanges of heavy weapons fire across the border between restive Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda". The Security Council is to meet on Wednesday evening.

The governor of Goma, the regional capital of the Nord-Kivu province, said people "are stampeding". Thousands of refugees were attempting to leave as thousands more arrived, fleeing fighting further north.