The United Nations says the Democratic Republic ofCongo's army and rebels have engaged in what it calls the worstclashes in a week. This, despite rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda's declaredsupport for a ceasefire. The latest fighting occurred in Riwindi, about 125kilometers north of the eastern Congo's provincial capital, Goma.
DavidNtengwe is external relations officer for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). Hesays heavy fighting is still going on in some areas. "So far, fighting has beenongoing in the north of Goma, but the rest of Goma itself is calm. Althoughthe standoff between government forces and rebels is still not resolved, westill have a front-line, 20 kilometers out of Goma and where we also have 65,000displaced people."
Ntengwesays the mediation efforts of former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo hasnot had the expected effect of reducing tensions among the warring sides. "Ithink it is too early at this stage to measure the impact of his negotiationsbecause I an quite sure he has got a lot of diplomatic moves?to make sure thatthe right contacts are made, that the right people are involved and that theyhave an understanding in what they want to discuss, how they want to discuss itand the way forward. Now at this stage, up until the real discussion starts, itis difficult to measure the impact."
The U.N. refugee official says the warhas had a devastating impact on the civilian population. "(But now) we've beenable to, for example, distribute non-food items, we are taking advantage ofthis window of opportunity to ensure that we have a contingency plan in placefor when we can move people to safer places than where they are now at thefront-line, and more distribution of food is starting Tuesday by WFP(U.N. World Food Program) in the other sites within Goma. Theses are the thingson-going right now as discussions continue and as relative calm continues tostay."