War goes on, rebels say

A military official of the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD), Commander Ilondo, told IRIN on Tuesday the movement was not interested in the peace deal because it was not a signatory. "The war will continue because Zimbabwean and Angolan troops are still fighting," he said. Speaking by satellite phone from eastern DRC, he added that the accord contained no guarantees for the rebel movement. Regarding proposed inter-Congolese talks under the auspices of the Catholic Sant'Egidio community in Rome, he said the RCD would consider attending, but "some changes" had to be made to the agenda first. "We have to be in agreement," he stressed. Addressing journalists in Kinshasa on Sunday, DRC Information Minister Didier Mumengi announced the Rome meeting would begin on 30 April and the deliberations would be concluded in Nairobi, Kenya, DRC television reported. He described the talks as "crucial for the destiny of our country". News organisations quoted Rwanda's presidential spokesman Patrick Mazimhaka as saying there could be no agreement on ending the war without the participation of the rebels.