Tanzanian, Zambian presidents hail withdrawal from Kisangani

Presidents Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania and Frederick Chiluba of Zambia on Wednesday welcomed the decision by Uganda and Rwanda to withdraw their troops from the northeastern city of Kisangani, at the end of a summit in the Zambian capital Lusaka. On his return home, Mkapa said the question of the withdrawal of all foreign troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo was vital “in order for peace to be achieved in the country”, news organisations reported. Chiluba facilitated the negotiations that resulted in the signing of the Lusaka peace agreement by all sides in the DRC conflict, while the Tanzanian president attempted to mediate between Uganda and Rwanda over the Kisangani clashes last month, the news sources said.