Exiled Congolese soldiers asked to leave

The Gabonese government says it has asked exiled Congolese army officers to leave the country. The exiles had sought refuge in Gabon after a civil war broke out three years ago in the Republic of Congo. Gabonese Interior Minister Antoine Mboumbou Miyakou made the disclosure on Tuesday on Africa No. 1, a Libreville-based radio station. He said that, following a meeting between Gabonese and Congolese authorities "and in view of the fact that peace has returned to Congo", he had asked the exiles to return home or choose another host country. He said he made the request at a meeting on Monday with representatives of the exiles. "It so happens that Gabon, through its head of state, is the international mediator (on Congo)," he said, "so it is not possible for us to serve as mediator while keeping, at the same time, so many Congolese soldiers on our soil, because more than 200 soldiers have been registered." The civil war in Congo pitted supporters of then president Pascal Lissouba .