ugnet_: Uganda to pull troops out-BBC

[Omar Kezimbira]

Monday, 10 February, 2003, 14:04 GMT Uganda to pull troops out The Ugandans have backed rebels in the north-east Uganda has agreed to withdraw its troops from Ituri Province, in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The announcement follows a meeting in Tanzania between the presidents of the two countries. Yoweri Museveni and Joseph Kabila met after the United Nations warned that Uganda and Rwanda had begun fresh deployments of troops near Bunia, in Ituri Province, despite pulling out most of their soldiers late last year under a peace agreement. The deal ended a war that drew in several neighbouring armies and left more than two million people dead, but clashes and widespread abuses have persisted in the north-east. Troops According to the agreement signed by the foreign ministers of Uganda and DR Congo, Uganda will withdraw its troops from Bunia by 20 March. Mr Museveni said that there were 2,000 Ugandan troops in the region. The two countries have also agreed to amend the Luanda agreement which made provision for the withdrawal of Ugandan troops. Withdrawal timetable By 14/02: Ministerial meeting By 17/02: Ituri Pacification Commission set up By 10/03: Commission completes its work By 13/03: Public order mechanism set up By 18/03: New administrative authority in Ituri By 20/03: Ugandan troops withdraw from Bunia The deal has been welcomed by Mr Kabila, who told the BBC that this time, he was optimistic the agreement would work. The BBC's reporter in Dar-es-Salaam says Mr Kabila was bitter that Uganda had - in his view - violated the terms of the September agreement to withdraw foreign troops. Uganda pledged to withdraw all its troops, but at UN request, kept 1,000 troops in Bunia. The UN asked them to try to keep peace in the area, where ethnic clashes between the Lendu and the Hema have claimed thousands of

Key stories Q&A: Will peace stick? The long road to peace Rwandan troops leave Shifting rebel alliances Humanitarian crisis The cost of war Background Colonial connection Timeline Country profile TALKING POINT Will peace deal work? See also: 16 Jan 03 | Africa DR Congo rebels dismiss 'cannibalism' 15 Jan 03 | Africa UN condemns DR Congo cannibalism 14 Jan 03 | Africa Congolese rebels deny cannibalism 09 Jan 03 | Africa Congolese tell of 'appalling' abuse 30 Dec 02 | Africa DR Congo rebels sign ceasefire 06 Nov 02 | Africa DR Congo's women in the frontline Internet links: BBC Network Africa BBC Focus on Africa UN mission in DR Congo BBC Afrique 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 Somali peace talks to switch to Nairobi Red Cross leaves northern Uganda Ethiopia 'massing troops' on border Zuma rejects corruption claims Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page.

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