Obasango starts peace mediation drive in strife-torn eastern DR Congo

Renegade General Laurent Nkunda affirmed Sunday, after meeting with UN troubleshooter Olusegun Obasanjo, that he is intent on negotiating a ceasefire with the Kinshasa government in war-torn eastern DR Congo.

• "We are willing to talk peace with the Kinshasa authorities", Laurent Nkunda told reporters after a 2-hour encounter with Obasanjo in the rebel-held locality of Jomba in eastern Kivu province.
• Nkunda also said that he was still abiding by the ceasefire proclaimed unilaterally by his movement on October 29.
• "We have gave the green – light to the opening of humanitarian corridors to ease the dire plight of refugees", he added.
• The ethnic Tusti rebels have inflicted, over the past few weeks, scathing setbacks on Congolese government troops in heavy fighting in the eastern past of the country where the humanitarian situation is reported to be "appalling".
• The insurgents are now besieging the city of Goma and are within 20 km of the strategically-important town of Kanyabayonga which commands access to all supply routes towards north Kivu.