Holbrooke discusses DRC crisis with Mbeki

The American ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, has told South African President Thabo Mbeki and Namibian President Sam Nujoma that the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the most serious threat facing the region, news reports said on Monday. Holbrooke arrived in South Africa on Saturday after meeting Nujoma in Windhoek. Holbrooke also privately met former president Nelson Mandela. The reports quoted Holbrooke as saying he wants a new DRC peace mediator chosen as soon as possible to revitalize the truce signed in Lusaka in August by the government of President Laurent-Desire Kabila, his military backers Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe and rebel groups supported by Uganda and Rwanda. Holbrooke, who also visited Mali and Angola, was to travel to Zimbabwe later on Monday and then visit Zambia, Rwanda, Uganda, DRC and Tunisia. At a speech in Pretoria, he said renewed fighting in Congo "threatens to leave this important agreement in tatters." He added: "If the parties in Congo truly want the international community's involvement and support, such violations of commitments are simply unacceptable."