RCD accuses Ugandans of splitting the movement

Meanwhile, the rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) has accused Ugandan military commanders in eastern DRC of seeking to split the movement. Rebel commander Jean-Pierre Ondekane told the Rwanda News Agency (RNA) in Goma said the Ugandans were trying to disarm the RCD troops and force them to join another rebel movement, the Mouvement de liberation congolais (MLC) led by Jean-Pierre Bemba. RNA said Ondekane "pointed an accusatory finger" at Ugandan commander, Brigadier James Kazini. Ugandan press reports have said the Ugandan army is training MLC fighters ahead of a planned Ugandan pullout from eastern DRC. But Ondekane disputed this, alleging Kazini "is just disarming our units at Kisangani, Isiro, Beni, Bunia, Bafaswende and other towns and forcing them to join Bemba". According to RNA, two RCD battalions, including some top commanders, had gone over to the MLC.