'State of War' in Eastern Congo as Army splits

A dissident Congolese army officer says there is a state of war between the government and his forces in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Speaking to the BBC, General Laurent Nkunda, a Congolese Tutsi, accused the government of forming an alliance with Hutus to attack his troops.

Heavy fighting is reported in the Kivu region, with the Congolese army moving troops into the area.

The UN refugee agency says tens of thousands have fled from their homes.

The UNHCR says people are afraid of being caught between government forces, former Rwandan rebels and troops of General Nkunda.

The word is
rife that Rwanda may have already sent her troops back into the DR
Congo, reports that she, however, strongly denies. But this does little
to dispel the fears that all out war could break out between DR Congo
government forces and Tutsi rebels supported by Rwandese forces in the
northeastern province of Nord Kivu.

Kinshasa has called off operations against an extremist Hutu militia
accused of leading the 1994 Rwandan genocide, sparking protests from
Gen. Laurent Nkunda, who leads a Congolese Tutsi armed group in Nord
Kivu. The Rwandan government has also protested.

Reports that Rwanda Defence Forces (RDF) troops are inside eastern
DR Congo have been lent some element of credibility by comments of
relief workers, Congolese refugees and a senior UPDF military official,
all of whom requested not to be named because of the sensitivity of the
claim.

It is claimed that on August 18 the Rwandese forces allegedly crossed the border.

"RDF brigade 408 under Brigadier Mulokole has joined with Gen.
Nkunda rebels and we fear that there is war impending," the UPDF
officer told Sunday Monitor.