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Congo rebels lose northern town
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Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed the loss of a town in the north of the country which they say was overrun by troops fighting for President Laurent Kabila.
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He said the Congolese troops were backed by soldiers of the Zimbabwean army, and Rwandan militia fighters who oppose the Rwandan Government.
Mr Mulumba said the RCD had been outnumbered and forced to disengage.
 This is the most flagrant violation since the Lusaka peace accords went into effect  |
| RCD spokeman Kin-kiey Mulumba |
The capture of Bokungu appears to be part of an attempt by President Kabila's allied to break through rebel lines and reach a group of Zimbabwean soldiers who are besieged at Ikela, 70km south-east of Bokungu.
Reports on the number of trapped Zimababweans range from 700 to 3,000.
The Zimbabwean soldiers are part of a 10,000-strong force which is fighting to defend the government of President Laurent Kabila.
A Zimbabwe military spokesman said his forces would continue bomb attacks on the rebels, to defend the Zimbabwean forces and to oust the rebels from the area around Ikela.
Rebels 'capture plane'
There has also been fighting around the town of Basankusu.
MLC rebels have made gains in central Congo |
The latest fighting is among the most severe to have taken place since the peace deal signed by government, the rebels and the rebels' foreign backers.
Diplomats in Kinshasa have expressed concern that the latest fighting could mean the collapse of the accord.
United Nations military liaison officers have been sent to different parts of the country to review the current military situation and prepare the ground for a full-scale UN mission, provisionally scheduled to begin next year.
The UN Security Council has backed proposals to send 500 observers into Congo, but it wants clear guarantees that the peace is holding before giving formal authorisation for their deployment.
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See also: |
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25 Nov 99 | Africa |
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Zimbabwe losses add up in Congo |
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16 Nov 99 | Africa |
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OAU monitors enter DR Congo |
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11 Nov 99 | Africa |
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UN team starts work in Congo |
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03 Sep 99 | Africa |
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Rwanda hails Congo victory |
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08 Jul 99 | Africa |
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Congo peace plan: the main points |
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02 Oct 99 | Africa |
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Congo accused of breaking truce |
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23 Jun 99 | Africa |
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DR Congo: What price peace? |
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