Congo truce 'violated'

The fighters appear to have ignored the ceasefire

The latest ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo between government forces and rebels is reported to have been violated within hours of coming into effect.

Mr Jean-Pierre Bemba's rebel group is backed by Uganda

The truce should have been implemented on Friday at 0000 GMT.

But Jean-Pierre Bemba, who is the leader of one of the rebel factions, the Ugandan-backed Congolese Liberation Movement, has accused the government of ignoring the ceasefire.

This has been denied by the government.

Mr Bemba said fresh clashes had already broken out between government forces and his rebels in Equateur province - some 600 km (370 miles) northeast of Kinshasa.

Intended ceasefire

Began on Friday

Immediate end to hostilities

Includes 30km buffer zone

Paves way for 5,500-strong UN deployment

"Fighting has been continuing since yesterday and we have three wounded on our side and there are at least 10 enemy dead," said Mr Bemba, who was speaking from the town of Gbadolite.

More rebel accusations

Another rebel leader, Jean-Pierre Ondekane of the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD) also accused troops loyal to the government of President Laurent Kabila, of attacking his position in south Kivu in the eastern DR Congo.

"Kabila's troops, backed by Burundian Hutu rebels have been attacking us since before yesterday in south Kivu," he told reporters.

Mr Kabila's government denies breaking the new ceasefire

A government spokesman in Kinshasa told reporters that the government was abiding by the terms of the new ceasefire.

He accused the rebels of massive troop movements in the north, central and east of the country.

The latest ceasefire deal, which was hammered out last month after talks in Uganda, had been signed by all the warring parties - including Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola, which back different sides.

Despite the Lusaka peace accord signed last August between the Congolese President, Laurent Kabila, and the rebels, fighting has continued, hampering the planned deployment of 5,500 UN peacekeepers.

The UN Security Council says they will not be deployed until the peace process is revived and the ceasefire is respected.