DRC rebels turn themselves in

KINSHASA – More than 200 fighters in northern Congo who answer to a failed presidential candidate handed in their weapons and agreed to join the regular army – more than doubling the number of fighters who have surrendered following deadly fighting in the capital, United Nations officials said on Wednesday.

Their chief, Jean-Pierre Bemba, remained sequestered in the South African embassy, where he took refuge in the midst of clashes between his personal guard and government troops in Kinshasa earlier this month. Aid groups say at least 155 died over two days, and likely more.Bemba’s guard had previously missed multiple deadlines to disband, with his aides saying they could not comply with an agreement to integrate into the army because their leader’s security remained precarious.But 140 turned themselves in to UN headquarters in the capital after the clashes, followed Tuesday by many of his followers in the north, according to UN military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Didier Rancher.About 225 Bemba fighters handed their weapons over on Tuesday at Gbadolite, a town on Congo’s northern border with Central African Republic, Rancher said.He said Bemba forces in another northern town, Gemena, also joined up with army troops, though he did not have a figure on how many were stationed there.He said he did not know if there were others who refused to integrate into the army.Rancher said an old Coca-Cola bottling plant that had served as an arms cache for the forces was also secured.Nampa-APAid groups say at least 155 died over two days, and likely more.Bemba’s guard had previously missed multiple deadlines to disband, with his aides saying they could not comply with an agreement to integrate into the army because their leader’s security remained precarious.But 140 turned themselves in to UN headquarters in the capital after the clashes, followed Tuesday by many of his followers in the north, according to UN military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Didier Rancher.About 225 Bemba fighters handed their weapons over on Tuesday at Gbadolite, a town on Congo’s northern border with Central African Republic, Rancher said.He said Bemba forces in another northern town, Gemena, also joined up with army troops, though he did not have a figure on how many were stationed there.He said he did not know if there were others who refused to integrate into the army.Rancher said an old Coca-Cola bottling plant that had served as an arms cache for the forces was also secured.Nampa-AP