Kabila lambasts Pretoria

DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila has accused the South African government of being “puppets of the aggressors” in his country’s civil war. Speaking in an interview on Wednesday night with SABC television, Kabila said he was surprised at Pretoria’s attitude: “It is common knowledge that Rwandan and Ugandan forces are deployed in our country - so why are we still talking about rebels instead of invaders?” Kabila said he was surprised that South Africa had not asked the aggressors to leave the country immediately. “This double-standard is unpleasant for all the people of Congo.” He said there would be no ceasefire in his country until Rwandan and Ugandan troops withdrew. South African Foreign Ministry spokesman Marco Boni said South Africa’s position remained unchanged since the signing of the Pretoria declaration in August. “It is critical that a ceasefire be implemented without delay and that it should be followed by the withdrawal of all foreign troops. This is in the interests not only of the Congolese but of the entire region,” he told IRIN.