Rwanda questions UN probe team

Rwanda and Uganda deny robbing DRC of its minerals

Rwanda has questioned the need for a United Nations investigation into claims that together with Uganda, it is involved in looting diamonds and gold in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

A presidential aide, Amir Sued Ismael, dismissed the accusation as groundless.

He said the investigating team, which had just visited Rwanda, would discover that the charges were a diversion.

The Congolese government has accused Kigali and Kampala, which back rival rebel groups fighting in DR Congo, of illegally exploiting the country's natural resources.

The UN team is investigating all the countries directly involved in the conflict including Burundi and President Kabila's allies, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola.

Security reasons

Kabila accuses Rwanda and Uganda of exploiting DRC

"We are happy that there is an investigation team here to see if (the accusations) have not been a diversionary tactic from the beginning for those who want the war to be perceived differently", Mr Sued told reporters.

"Diamonds are probably being taken here and there...they have always been gathered, but the war offers a perfect opportunity for smugglers," he said.

The UN probe team led by Ivorian Safiatou Ba-N'Daw met President Paul Kagame on Wednesday.

Last Saturday, the team held talks with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni who said that his country was in the DR Congo purely for internal security reasons and that his forces had nothing to do with exploiting natural resources.

The team is to hand in an interim report in December and a final report is due early next year.