UN caught in new DR Congo clashes

[Guest guest]

While caught in the crossfire, the UN should have shot back at both sides. The stories that I have read are that the UN is retreating from the rebels. That's nothing new either since they've run away a number of other times.

If they want to get through to these people, they should take a page from the British. When the British had a force in Sierra Leon, 6 of their soldiers and a local military guide were taken prisoner. The British sent in SAS and paratroopers by helicopter to get them back. They succeeded. Not only did that particular faction break up, but most of the rest did as well because they feared they would be next.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2000/07/15/world/main215600.shtml

In a message dated 11/5/2008 2:30:12 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, no_reply writes:

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[Guest guest]

http://news.myjoyonline.com/international/200811/22398.asp

UN caught in new DR Congo clashes

Last Updated: Wednesday, 5 November 2008, 5:44 GMT

Peacekeepers have been caught up in renewed clashes in eastern

Democratic Republic of Congo after days of relative calm, the United

Nations says.

Fighting broke out between rebel forces and two pro-government

militias, said a UN spokeswoman in the main town, Goma.

Rebel leader Gen t Nkunda last week declared a ceasefire, as

his forces approached Goma.

The BBC's Greste in the town says the clashes are worrying but

do not necessarily mean the ceasefire is over.

Goma is surrounded by rebel forces, which have routed government

forces.

Some 250,000 people have fled their homes and aid agencies are

struggling to help them.

Caught in crossfire

Some fled the countryside for Goma but others have since returned, as

there is not enough food or shelter for them in the town.

Earlier, the French foreign minister called for the mandate of the

17,000-strong UN peacekeeping force in DR Congo to be strengthened.

UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy, visiting Goma, said the UN

mandate was currently to " protect civilians and to support the army

in disarming rebel forces " .

" Our mandate is not to defend cities, " he told the BBC's Network

Africa programme.

The latest clashes broke out just north of Rutshuru, around 80km (50

miles) north of Goma, where a UN convoy carrying medical supplies

arrived on Monday.

" Our base was caught in the crossfire between CNDP [Gen Nkunda's

National Congress for the Defence of the People] forces and Mai-Mai

in the north, " said UN spokeswoman Sylvie van den Wildenberg.

The UN refugee agency said three camps for displaced people near

Rutshuru had been emptied and destroyed.

The UNHCR said it was trying to establish the fate of about 50,000

people who had been sheltering in the area.

Our correspondent says there have been some deliveries of fresh water

and high-energy biscuits to those displaced by the fighting but he

says this is just scratching the surface of their needs.

Medical aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres said it had been treating

displaced people for cholera in mobile clinics.

Diplomatic efforts

Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in

Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President ph

Kabila agrees to hold direct talks.

But our correspondent says this could be hubris, as it is hard to see

how he could transport his 6-7,000 fighters all the way across a

country the size of western Europe.

The rebel forces do, however, appear to have the strength to take

Goma, he said.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says he is ready to fly to the

region at the weekend to help mediate a deal to end the conflict.

He said he would meet Mr Kabila and his Rwandan counterpart,

Kagame.

But Rwanda said demands for a meeting between the Congolese and

Rwandan leaders were based on a " misperception " .

" The prevailing assumption that the crisis is a matter between Rwanda

and the DRC is wrong, contrary to what some in the international

community continue to say, " a government statement said.

Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from

attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking

part in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

Rwanda has repeatedly denied accusations that its forces were

supporting Gen Nkunda.

But it has frequently accused the Congolese government of not doing

enough to tackle the Rwandan Hutu rebels and has twice invaded its

much larger neighbour on these grounds.

Lobby group Global Witness recently accused the Congolese army of

working with the rebels to mine gold and tin in the area.

Source: BBC