MLC warned to return to former positions

The DRC defence ministry has warned rebels of the Mouvement de liberation du Congo (MLC) in Equateur province that “all necessary means” would be used to stop their “numerous ceasefire violations”. A statement on Friday night said Jean-Pierre Bemba’s MLC had that day attacked government positions at Ikombe on the Oubangui river, forcing them to withdraw to Mokame, some 28 km from Mokolo. The statement claimed Bemba was sending reinforcements to Mokolo “in preparation for a large-scale operation”. Unless the MLC withdrew to its previous positions, “all necessary means will be used to compel Jean-Pierre Bemba and his friends to return to their positions”.

The MLC, for its part, said its troops came under attack at Imesse, along the Oubangui river, on Friday. In a statement, received by IRIN, Bemba said government forces had been firing from a vessel stationed on the right bank of the river on the border with Congo-Brazzaville. He said the ship was hidden behind numerous islands in that part of the river. According to provisional casualty toll, two MLC soldiers were wounded, but there was no definitive figure yet, the statement added.