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Miliband flies to crisis-hit Congo
31.10.08
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Foreign Secretary David Miliband was flying to the Democratic Republic of Congo as fierce fighting rages between the African nation's government and rebel forces, the Foreign Office confirmed.
Mr Miliband will also visit Rwanda as diplomatic efforts get under way to try and bring an end to the crisis.
Envoys from the US and UN have been sent in to help set up negotiations as aid agencies warned of a humanitarian catastrophe.
On Thursday, a ceasefire appeared to be holding in the violence-hit eastern city of Goma.
On Wednesday tens of thousands of residents, refugees and government soldiers fled the city as rebels advanced.
Congolese soldiers were reported to have killed at least nine people and looted homes and stores in the eastern provincial capital.
Rebel leader Laurent Nkunda has called for the urgent disarmament of a Rwandan Hutu militia that he says works with the government.
He said his fighters had retreated seven miles from Goma.
But he has threatened to take the city unless UN peacekeepers guarantee the ceasefire.
Despite agreeing to a UN-brokered ceasefire in January, Nkunda resumed fighting in August. More than 200,000 people have been forced from their homes over the past months.
Reader views (2)
So Millipede is off to sort out the woes of the Congo. Hah! Might as well send Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand they will have just as much insight into the problems of Africa.
- Mark, Whitstable UK
Memo to DR Congo:
Please hang on to Mr Milliband for as long as possible. We don't want him back.
- Adam, Harrow, UK
