M23 rebels are pulling out of the Congolese city of Goma, as the UN considers sanctions. Source: AAP
REBEL fighters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo say they are moving out of frontline positions, in line with a deal aimed at halting the deadly unrest in the volatile resource-rich area.
The M23 rebels could be seen on Thursday pulling back equipment from the areas that they seized last week in a lightning advance that prompted international condemnation and calls for withdrawal.
"We have gathered our troops and will move towards Sake," said M23 Colonel Antoine Manzi, a senior commander of the army mutineers, referring to a town some 20km west of Goma, which the insurgents have agreed to leave by Friday.
"We will start leaving Goma tomorrow ... we cannot leave Goma before we have left the other areas," he told AFP on Thursday, adding that he expected the M23 would hand over control to United Nations peacekeepers there.
Residents have reported seeing dozens of trucks trundling through the lush green and rolling hills on the shores of Lake Kivu towards Goma.
Uganda's army chief Aronda Nyakairima said earlier this week a deal had been struck with the rebels to pull out of the lakeshore city by Thursday, although M23 military leader Sultani Makenga said the deadline was Friday.
Under the deal struck in Uganda between rebels and regional military commanders - who are due to visit Goma on Friday to monitor progress of the promised withdrawal - a company of 100 M23 gunmen will stay at Goma's airport.
Decades of civil war between multiple militia forces have ravaged the region, which holds vast mineral wealth, including copper, diamonds, gold and the key mobile phone component coltan.
Civilians are suffering as aid agencies struggle to cope with newly displaced, with some 285,000 people abandoning their homes since the rebels began their uprising in April.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Congo rebels begin frontline withdrawal
Dengan url
http://wacanaasal.blogspot.com/2012/11/congo-rebels-begin-frontline-withdrawal.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Congo rebels begin frontline withdrawal
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Congo rebels begin frontline withdrawal
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar