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KINSHASA, Congo (AP) Fighting resumed Friday in eastern Congobetween the army and a group of ex-soldiers who left the militaryto form a new rebel group, an army spokesman said, ending threeyears of relative peace in this nation periodically upended by war. The defections and violence started last month, after soldiers whowere formally rebels from the Tutsi ethnic group linked to Gen.Bosco Ntaganda claimed that they weren't being paid and that thegovernment had failed to hold up their end of a three-year-oldpeace deal that integrated them into the army. The military launched an offensive against the mutineers on April29. They then called for a five-day cease-fire which endedWednesday, in an attempt to lure the defectors back into theregular ranks. Several dozen returned, but the core group offighters maintains that it will keep fighting. "Since last night we have been fighting the mutineers, who attackedone of our positions in the zone of Runyoni near the border withRwanda," military spokesman Maj. Oliver Hamuli told The Associated Press Friday by telephone. "The mutineers took advantage of ourcease-fire to attack us." Asked if he thought Ntaganda is with the new rebel group, he said,"We know that the mutineers are being used by Bosco Ntaganda." Ntaganda and his fighters used to belong to the former CNDP rebelgroup, which agreed to integrate into the army in 2009, acontroversial move because ex-warlord Ntaganda is wanted for warcrimes by the International Criminal Court . He lived freely, and was allowed to wear the stripes of a generalin the Congolese military, despite repeated appeals by the worldcourt. As hundreds of soldiers left and fighting began, CongolesePresident Joseph Kabila visited the troubled area and reversed his longtime stance onNtaganda, announcing that the Congolese army would go after him.Ntaganda is now in hiding. The de facto leader of the newly christened M23 rebel group isNtaganda's No. 2. Members of the group claim that Ntaganda is notwith them, and they say they are fighting for the better treatmentof Congo's Tutsi ethnic group. Residents in Bunagana in the district of Rutshuru, near thefighting, are fleeing en masse, Hamuli said. The vice president of the area's civil society group said that atleast 2,500 families had fled Bunagana to cross the border intoUganda. "They are seeking refuge in Uganda according to the civil societythere," said Omar Kavota, adding that fighting started at 4 a.m.Friday morning about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the town ofBunagana. Kabila condemned the attack on Thursday during the plenary sessionof his newly appointed government. He asked his Cabinet to make thesituation in eastern Congo one of their priorities, said Ministerof Communication Lambert Mende. I am an expert from personalized-lapelpins.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Custom Made Souvenir , China Imitations Jewelry, Custom Medals,and more.
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