ICRC not approached over “exchange” of prisoners

ICRC on Wednesday said it had not been approached by the Ugandan or Chadian governments on their intentions to “exchange” prisoners of war (POWs) captured in the DRC. Ugandan media had reported that the two countries would exchange POWs under the supervision of ICRC. “We have not been approached by any of the parties involved about the exchange,” ICRC spokesman Juan Martinez told IRIN. He said ICRC had recently visited 27 POWs in Chad “but all were Congolese.” Meanwhile, RCD rebels in Lusambo, Kasai Oriental province, were holding 43 prisoners of war, including 35 Congolese, six Namibians and two Zimbabweans, AFP said on Wednesday. Other allied soldiers were killed or wounded when the rebels captured the town last week, it said.