“Tentative” withdrawal plan reported

Officials from countries involved in the conflict reached a “tentative agreement” on troop withdrawal during SADC-organised ceasefire negotiations in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, on Thursday, AFP reported, citing sources close to the talks. “The withdrawal should start sometime in July and end within three months,” one source told AFP, which added that there were still differences among the parties.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe said in Harare at the end of two days of talks with DRC President Laurent-Desire Kabila that the two leaders remained suspicious of Ugandan and Rwandan plans, news agencies said. “To us the most important thing is that we strengthen our defence forces...and prevent more ground being taken and occupied by the invading forces,” he was quoted as saying. Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu said on Wednesday that his country would agree to a cessation of hostilities if the DRC made a commitment to deal with Rwanda’s security concerns, notably the presence of Hutu militia in eastern Congo, news agencies reported.