/ 7 October 2000

PESSIMISM OVER DRC PEACE PROSPECTS

THE man in charge of organising all-party talks in war-torn Democratic Republic of the Congo, former Botswanan president Sir Ketumile Masire, has expressed increasing pessimism about his chances of success, saying the international community was not doing enough to support him. Congolese President Laurent Kabila refuses to work with Masire, who is now looking for support from foreign nations to put pressure on Kinshasa. Kabila banished Masire from the Congo and accused him of bias toward the rebels fighting Kinshasa. The rebels – who are backed by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi – control large parts of the country. – Reuters