Congolese flee as rebels advance

There are 17,000 UN peacekeepers in DR Congo

Thousands of people have fled the town of Sake in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as rebel fighters loyal to Gen Laurent Nkunda advance.The town, which is on the main road to the regional capital, Goma, is being defended by UN troops, who say they will use force if attacked.

The army has lost the territory it gained in last week’s offensive.

An estimated 400,000 people have been uprooted this year. A BBC reporter in the region says Sake is almost empty.

‘Political solution’

The BBC’s Arnaud Zajtman in Goma, 30km from Sake, says rebels are approaching the town from the north, while UN peacekeepers have set up positions in the surrounding hills.

“We have reinforced our positions. We won’t let this town fall into the hands of Nkunda’s troops,” Major Prem Tiwari, a spokesman for the UN mission in DR Congo (Monuc), said, according to the AFP news agency.

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Human Rights Watch has appealed for all sides to protect those caught up in the fighting.

BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says the Congolese offensive, launched after months of planning, appears in disarray just days after they were trumpeting a “major victory” over Gen Nkunda’s force.

Observers suggest this is a major setback, not only for President Joseph Kabila, whose soldiers have not been up to the task, but also for the UN, which publicly committed itself to backing the government advance.

Meanwhile, Gen Nkunda’s spokesman has called for talks, AFP reports.

“We believe that the solution to the problem is political and not military, even though the situation on the ground is currently in our favour,” said Rene Abandi.

Gen Nkunda claims to defend DR Congo’s Tutsi population against Rwandan Hutu rebels who have lived in eastern DR Congo since the Rwandan genocide in 1994.

The government had repeatedly warned him to stop his rebellion and integrate his men into the army.

[BBC]