Kigali to begin DRC pullout "in one week"

President Paul Kagame of Rwanda announced on Friday that Rwandan troops would begin their pullout from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) "in approximately one week's time".

Addressing the UN Security Council in New York, he reiterated Rwanda's commitment to the Pretoria agreement reached with the DRC on 30 July, and called upon Kinshasa to fulfill its obligations under that accord.

The Pretoria agreement commits Rwanda to withdrawing its troops from the DRC "as soon as effective measures have been taken to address security concerns in the DRC, in particular the dismantling of the Interahamwe [militia] and ex-FAR [former Rwandan army]", an official statement from the Rwandan capital, Kigali, said.

Kagame, however, advised the Security Council to be prepared to deal with any possible implications arising from the withdrawal of the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA). He urged the UN Mission in DRC (MONUC) to mobilise its forces in support of the pullout.

Earlier on Friday, Kagame held talks with US President George Bush, DRC President Joseph Kabila and South African President Thabo Mbeki. In the meeting, all four heads of state expressed their support for the Pretoria agreement and its immediate implementation, while Bush noted his government's commitment to supporting the implementation process.

Rwanda's withdrawal would follow similar moves already undertaken by Uganda and Zimbabwe. Namibia has announced the total withdrawal of its troops from the DRC, while Angola maintains a small contingent in the country.