Congo says ceasefire violated

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwanda and Uganda of trying to reignite war, despite promises to put away their weapons and withdraw troops.

The government's commissioner for relations with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Congo, Leonard Ntwaremba, said Rwanda and Uganda have deployed troops and arms to strategic positions near the front line - contrary to the UN sponsored peace agreement.

Mr Ntwaremba, whose status is equivalent to that of a government minister, said the actions were a deliberate attempt by Rwanda and Uganda to stay on in Congo and partition the country.

A 1999 deal to end the war, which involved six foreign armies, was revived after President Joseph Kabila succeeded his assassinated father, Laurent, in January.

But each side accuses the other of violating the ceasefire. The governments in Kigali and Kampala have yet to reply to Mr Ntwaremba's charge.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service