President gives rebels one month to surrender

The president of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou-Nguesso, on Monday gave rebels fighting in the Pool region until 18 December to surrender their arms. "Government forces which operate in the region will have the task of opening humanitarian corridors to facilitate the coming forward of the young strays," he said. He promised the rebels their personal safety but declined to say what action he would take if they failed to meet the deadline to surrender. The announcement was made at a march organised by the Convention for the Restoration of Peace in Pool, a body headed by minister for commerce, consumption and supplies, Adelaide Moundele Ngollo. On 20 August 2002, Sassou-Nguesso made a similar appeal to militiamen fighting with rebel chief Federic Bitsangou, alias Pasteur Ntoumi, after which 250 fighters surrendered to government forces. The Ninja rebels have been fighting the government since 1998. Hostilities have intensified since March, two weeks after the Sassou-Nguesso’s re-elected as president, despite a ceasefire agreement signed in December 1999. An estimated 50,000 people have been displaced as a result.