Uganda, Rwanda fail to agree on Kisangani ceasefire

Fighting between Ugandan and Rwandan troops continued in the northern Congolese town of Kisangani for a second day on Tuesday, according to humanitarian sources and officials from both countries. "As of this morning the RPA [Rwandan Patriotic Army] attacked our positions 12 times and we successfully repulsed them," Ugandan army spokesman Major Pheneas Katirima told IRIN. "Our position on the way forward is that first of all there should be a ceasefire, followed by a simultaneous withdrawal of both RPA and UPDF [Uganda People's Defence Force] from their current positions." He said the withdrawals should be done during daylight, under the supervision of the UN mission, MONUC. The Rwandan authorities for their part accused the Ugandan army of acting in bad faith. Army spokesman Major Emmanuel Ndahiro said the Ugandans had a "pre-determined plan to take us by surprise because they knew that a bulk of our forces had withdrawn". He said the Ugandan army should withdraw to its original positions. The Ugandan government meanwhile issued a statement expressing disappointment over the UN's "failure to condemn up to now these irresponsible and provocative actions committed by the RPA in the presence of UN personnel".