Fresh DRC talks

Presidents Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique, Frederick Chiluba of Zambia, and Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania held a day of talks on the DRC conflict on Wednesday in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam, news organisations reported. A Mozambique radio report monitored by the BBC quoted Chissano as saying that the three presidents who form part of the DRC working group, "decided that President Chiluba should continue with his efforts until a summit takes place and a ceasefire is delcared". In brief remarks to journalists, Chiluba said: "The security of other states involved in the DRC war matters and they also have to be satisfied. The rebels also have to be contended with the whole thing, so we can't use any shortcuts. We shall go over it point by point until we reach a consensus." The presidents also urged the international community to support the Lusaka initiative chaired by Chiluba because it had the backing of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).