Refugee numbers rise as Zongo falls to DRC rebels

Scores of civilians and Congolese army soldiers arrived in the capital city, Bangui, on Friday after the town of Zongo, just across the Oubangui river in DRC, was captured by rebels of Jean Pierre Bemba's MLC, humanitarian sources said. Fighting across the border resulted in buildings in Bangui being shaken by mortar fire. On arrival in Bangui, the Congolese soldiers were disarmed by CAR soldiers and the MINURCA mission to the country. The number of Congolese arrivals in CAR stood at some 6,800 in Bangui, 14,000 in Mobaye and its environs, and about 2,000 in Mongounba and the south-west late last week, humanitarian sources stated. Included in those figures were disarmed Congolese soldiers - about 6,000 in Mobaye, 300 in Bangui and 100 in Mongounba - the status of whom was uncertain, with some wanting to remain in CAR but others wishing to return to DRC to resume fighting, they added. Sanitation conditions were reported to be deplorable, especially at the Bangui port area where thousands of refugees, particularly new arrivals, were temporarily based. Foreign minister says neutrality should not be abused CAR Foreign Minister Marcel Metefara has stated that the country's neutrality in the DRC conflict must be respected and "should not be an opportunity for anybody to cause trouble on CAR territory". The country had demonstrated again in the current crisis "its solidarity with the Congolese people, by advocating negotiations as well as the culture of peace", Gabonese radio reported Metefara as saying. The Lusaka peace process should also help curb any desires for rebellion and conflicts, he added. Officials from Bangui have held discussions with DRC Interior Minister Gaetan Kakudji on border security, conditions for Congolese refugees and the status of DRC soldiers disarmed within CAR after fleeing MLC advances, news agencies reported.