ugnet_: Red Cross leaves Northern Uganda-BBC

[Omar Kezimbira]

Monday, 10 February, 2003, 16:27 GMT Red Cross leaves northern Uganda The army has failed to wipe out the LRA The Ugandan Red Cross Society has announced that it is suspending its relief operation in the north of the country, after one of its convoys was ambushed by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). Six Red Cross volunteers were injured - three of them seriously - when they were attacked on Saturday. Their radio equipment and personal possessions were stolen, and their vehicles were damaged. The impact is going to be very negative Tom Buruku Ugandan Red Cross Meanwhile, 10 people, including businesspeople and also students returning to school for the first day of term, were killed in an LRA ambush on Sunday. The LRA is the remnant of a rebellion in northern Uganda which erupted after President Yoweri Museveni seized power in 1986. It has achieved an international reputation for brutality, and for forcibly recruiting child soldiers - although LRA leaders deny doing so. 'Deplorable' The Red Cross in Uganda says Saturday's attack shows that the LRA is changing its tactics and is now viewing relief workers as potential targets. The chairman of the Ugandan society, Tom Buruku, told the BBC that he has now decided to suspend relief efforts until he is satisfied that security has improved in the region. Thousands of civilians have been abducted He said the attack was deplorable, as his volunteers were travelling in a clearly-marked vehicles on a much-needed humanitarian mission. "Of course the impact is going to be very negative. You have a lot of displaced people who are in urgent need of assistance, and that's why we are there," he said. "But now our staff are being attacked - so it's an awkward situation". Uganda's army spokesman, Major Shaban Bantariza, said that the Red Cross had been advised - prior to the ambush - to allow the Ugandan army to escort its vehicles but that the organisation had not responded. The rebels say they are open to the idea of holding talks with the government, but correspondents say there seems to be little prospect of such discussions being arranged while attacks like this take place.

War in the north Key stories Rebels for neighbours LRA keep the faith Displaced face misery Tracking the LRA Bounty for rebel leader Background Country profile Timeline See also: 29 Dec 02 | Africa Ugandan rebel seeks peace talks 19 Dec 02 | Africa Uganda's 'war is over' 04 Oct 02 | Africa Ugandan rebels offered peace talks 19 Sep 02 | Africa Villagers 'hacked to death' in Uganda 16 Sep 02 | Africa Uganda raiders release priests Internet links: BBC Focus on Africa Uganda Government The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Africa stories now: Uganda to pull troops out Rebels boycott Ivory Coast peace talks Commonwealth 'to re-admit' Zimbabwe Last hours for Nigeria registration South Africa threaten England boycott Somali peace talks to switch to Nairobi Red Cross leaves northern Uganda Ethiopia 'massing troops' on border Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page.

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