DR Congo to deport Ugandan rebels

Uganda's peace process is extremely fragile

The Democratic Republic of Congo will disarm and return to Uganda a group of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels.

Congolese Defence Minister Adolphe Onusumba told the BBC that DR Congo had "no interest in keeping them" after the LRA fighters turned up last week.

The LRA has been fighting a war with no clear agenda for the past 19 years.

The rebels normally operate in northern Uganda and southern Sudan, but a group had surprise talks with UN officals in north-east DR Congo after arriving.

"It is normal to disarm them as they are on Congolese territory and we have to send them home to Uganda," Mr Onusumba told the BBC's French for Africa service.

A senior member of the Congolese army also met the Ugandan rebels, and called for them to disarm. Discussions are said to be continuing by telephone.

The LRA's deputy commander is believed to be among the group of rebels, although he did not attend Sunday's meeting. The BBC's Will Ross in Kampala says that even if this group of rebels agrees to disarm, the end of the war in northern Uganda will be far from guaranteed.

LRA commander Joseph Kony remains with his fighters in southern Sudan.