Thousands of Congolese have fled clashes between troops loyal to General Laurent Nkunda and the Congolese army in the eastern town of Sake. At least 18 civilians, 17 government soldiers and two soldiers from Nkunda's brigade were wounded in the gun battle, UN officials said. Two government soldiers were killed in the clashes, the government said.
| Democracy thing is working well, eh? |
| “The UN said there was nothing to worry about after a deal was reached between Commanders of Nkunda's fighters and the army's 9th brigade to withdraw both forces from the town...” |
The clashes are less than one week after the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) held its first multiparty elections in more than 40 years, aimed at cementing peace after a 1998-2003 war during which Nkunda rebelled against Kinshasa. The UN said there was nothing to worry about after a deal was reached between Commanders of Nkunda's fighters and the army's 9th brigade to withdraw both forces from the town. But women carrying children on their backs and men bearing suitcases or mattresses walked in long lines along the road to the provincial capital Goma, 20 kms (13 miles) to the east, near to the Rwandan border. "The firing has stopped. There are fears and apprehensions. There was a small misunderstanding but there is nothing to worry about," Brigadier General GV Satyanarayana, commander of United Nations forces in North Kivu, told Reuters in Sake. |