UN to observe Rwandan pull-back

The pull-back was mediated by the UN

By Mark Devenport at the UN in New York

A group of UN military observers has left the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, for the strategic town of Pweto, in the south-east of the country.

The observers will be tasked with verifying the promised 200km (125 miles) pull-back of Rwandan forces in the area.

The four UN observers left Kinshasa on Friday but they are not expected to be ready for work in Pweto until Sunday.

Rwanda captured Pweto in Katanga province in December last year after fierce fighting between the Rwandan army and Congolese Government forces.

Rwanda has promised that its forces will start to pull back from their positions around Pweto this week.

Crucial moves

This will be one of the key tests of the warring parties' commitment to a fresh timetable for disengagement which has just been agreed with the United Nations Security Council.

On Monday, 40 new military observers are due to arrive in Kinshasa, bringing the number of UN military personnel deployed in DR Congo to around 240.

Withdrawal of Rwandan troops - key test

The UN intends to increase its force to 3,000, which is less than the number originally authorised.

The UN points out that given the vast size of the country, it is impossible to deploy a fully-fledged peacekeeping force.

The monitoring mission now envisaged will depend heavily on the co-operation of the armies and rebel groups involved in the conflict.