"Breakthrough" reported in Lusaka

Latest reports from Lusaka on Wednesday said there had been a
"breakthrough", with the opposing sides agreeing to sign a ceasefire document aimed at ending the DRC conflict. According to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, this could happen "as early as this afternoon" and the move now paved the way for heads of state to ratify the accord.

However, there still appeared to be differences between the sides on how the Interahamwe militia should be disarmed. Rwanda and Uganda believe a proposed UN peacekeeping force would not have the staying power to identify and disarm the militiamen. Rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba of the Mouvement de liberation congolais (MLC) concurred, stressing that "leaving
the UN alone to identify and disarm the Interahamwe is not possible". "We believe we are in the best position to do this job, because we know the ground ... we will be able to identify, disarm and encamp them," he told Gabonese radio on Tuesday. "As long as the Interahamwe operate on Congolese territory, there will be no peace in Congo," he added.

DRC Interior Minister Didier Mumengi meanwhile accused Rwanda of using the Interahamwe as a "pretext to continue its aggression", news reports said.

"We are convinced the Interahamwe are not with us," Mumengi was quoted as saying.

Reports of new "autonomous province" in northeast

According to reports from northeastern DRC, a new "autonomous province" has been created from the erstwhile Ituri district, called Kibali-Ituri.

Sources in contact with the region told IRIN the situation was very confused, with some reports alleging ousted rebel leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba was trying to establish himself there. Ethnic clashes have reportedly been raging since mid-June between the Walendu and Wahema groups in areas around Bunia. Some deaths have been reported, along with looted and burnt houses.