Rebels block UN Congo deployment
The UN is monitoring the pullback of troops and rebels
A planned deployment of UN peacekeeping troops to the town of Kisangani in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday has been blocked by rebels controlling the town.
UN force commander Mountago Diallo says the rebels of the RCD Goma group are demanding the UN make a statement on ceasefire violations by government troops on the other side of the country.
A 3,000-strong international force is scheduled to deploy in the coming months along Congo's frontline positions, to monitor and verify last month's 15km withdrawal by the six armies and two major rebel groups involved in the war.
General Diallo described the situation as very frustrating.
He said the RCD should not be making such demands of the UN mission. The UN had already verified the ceasefire violations, as agreed by all sides to the conflict.
Earlier, the UN had expressed its determination to go ahead with the deployment of a first contingent of 120 Moroccan peacekeepers, despite the Rwandan-backed rebel objections.
But rebel leader Adolphe Onusumba said he would regard any such move as a "declaration of war".
"They will not deploy in Kisangani before they publish a report on attacks within our territory," he said.
Earlier, UN observers had confirmed that there was evidence of such violations. They said they were looking into allegations that civilians had been raped and murdered by government troops in rebel-held areas of the Eastern Kasai province.
But UN envoy Kamel Morjane said a report on the alleged atrocities - in which seven people are said to have been killed, four raped and thousands forced to flee - would not be published for several days.
He also said that giving in to rebel demands would put the whole effort at risk of "collapse".
No link
"There is no link whatsoever between Kisangani and Eastern Kasai. If you are concerned about the people, you need to increase the number of [UN] troops, not ask for less."
Kisangani, the country's third-largest city, is 300km (190 miles) north of Eastern Kasai and has been the scene of fierce fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan forces backing separate rebel movements.
The 120 Moroccan peacekeeping soldiers were to guard supplies used by UN observers verifying the ceasefire.
Further contingents are due to arrive over the next few days.
Mr Morjane said the chances for peace were better than ever, following two and a half years of conflict.
As the UN held talks with the rebels over the deployment, Congolese President Joseph Kabila announced a new 25 member cabinet.
It excludes several close allies of his father,
Laurent Kabila, who was assassinated in
January.
-- Anonymous, April 15, 2001