Annan Welcomes Withdrawal of 4 Countries' Armed Forces from Congo

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Annan Welcomes Withdrawal of 4 Countries' Armed Forces from Congo

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United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday welcomed a continuing withdrawal of the armed forces of Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Angola from the territory of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In a statement through his spokesman, Annan urged these countries to continue the move in accordance with recent agreements and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

"The secretary-general urges all parties in the DRC to work in good faith towards an expeditious resolution of the conflict that has caused so much suffering," the statement said.

The DRC conflict broke out in August 1998, claiming thousands of lives in the vast central African state. Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe propped up the Kinshasa government against Congolese rebels backed by Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi.

In July 1999, the parties signed the Lusaka cease-fire agreement, but its implementation had been slow due to differences.

The recent signing of separate peace agreements by the DRC withRwanda and Uganda, while only the beginning of the process, could be a major step forward toward ending the region's long-standing conflict, Annan said in his latest report on the situation in the DRC.

According to the UN Mission in DRC, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Rwandahave each withdrawn some 2,000 troops from the DRC since August.

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