Kisangani clashes worsen

Rwandan and Ugandan troops first clashed in Kisangani last year

Fighting has been intensifying in the Democratic Republic of Congo between Rwandan and Ugandan troops in the rebel-held north-eastern city of Kisangani.

Eyewitnesses told the BBC that fierce artillery exchanges were taking place in the city centre and in surrounding suburbs.

Aid workers said water and electricity supplies to residents had been cut off in the mineral-rich city.

They said they had ventured out on Monday during a lull in the fighting and had seen 10 civilians lying dead in the street.

An internationally-supervised withdrawal from Kisangani by the two countries began last week following earlier clashes.

The rebel movement, the Congolese Rally for Democracy, also announced that they would redeploy their forces outside a 100 km (60 mile) radius of Kisangani.

Uganda and Rwanda support different rebel factions in their war with the Congolese Government who are backed by Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola.

Talks problem

Peace talks being organised in Benin by an African mediator, former Botswana President Quett Masire, are in difficulties after the Kinshasa government refused to take part in preliminary discussions, and on Monday prevented Kinshasa-based opposition politicians from attending the sessions.

Hopes of a UN deployment depend on a ceasefire being observed

As part of the latest peace moves, Zambian leader Frederick Chiluba visited the southern city of Lubumbashi on Monday for talks with President Laurent Kabila.

The talks followed a summit on Saturday between Mr Kabila and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at which they agreed to restore relations and continue discussions to resolve their differences.

The UN Security Council agreed to send a 5,500 strong UN force in February to the DR Congo to monitor a ceasefire, but the deploment has been delayed by a failure to secure adequate guarantees of security and co-operation from the warring parties.