Holbrooke meets DRC rebel leaders

The US ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, met leaders of the three DRC rebel groups in Kampala on Friday, the 'New Vision' reported. Holbrooke, who is touring Africa to discuss the DRC conflict with regional leaders, met Jean-Pierre Bemba of the Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC), Emile Ilunga of the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) and Ernest Wamba dia Wamba of the RCD-Mouvement de liberation (RCD-ML). Holbrooke later told reporters there was "no substitute" for face-to-face talks. "We learned a lot," he said. He reiterated that a facilitator should be found as quickly as possible to implement the Lusaka ceasefire accord, signed by all parties to the DRC conflict. The rebel groups have called for the appointment of ex-Botswanan president Ketumile Masire as facilitator.