EU considering troops for Congo

KINSHASA – The European Union is considering sending troops to eastern Congo after rebels captured a key town last week, threatening the country’s fragile peace process, Belgium’s Foreign Minister said yesterday.

“We are in agreement on the principle (of deployment)… But we have to be sure of the modalities,” Louis Michel told a news conference in Congo’s capital Kinshasa.”In principle I am not opposed to this idea.It is a good idea if it is necessary,” he said, adding that the EU was expected to discuss the matter later yesterday.Congo’s turbulent east has plunged into a fresh spiral of violence since renegade troops captured the town of Bukavu on the eastern border with Rwanda last week, triggering concerns it could spark a wider war.Some 90 people have been killed in more than a week of fighting in Bukavu.The renegade troops left Bukavu on Sunday but in fresh violence, two United Nations peacekeepers were shot dead when their convoy was ambushed outside Goma, a border town some 120 km to the north.Congo blames neighbour Rwanda for aiding the rebel troops in the former Belgian colony who say they are fighting government forces to protect fellow Tutsi tribesmen.Rwanda denies any involvement.The European Union approved a French-led emergency intervention force in the north-eastern town of Bunia in June last year, the bloc’s first military deployment outside Europe.- Nampa – ReutersBut we have to be sure of the modalities,” Louis Michel told a news conference in Congo’s capital Kinshasa.”In principle I am not opposed to this idea.It is a good idea if it is necessary,” he said, adding that the EU was expected to discuss the matter later yesterday.Congo’s turbulent east has plunged into a fresh spiral of violence since renegade troops captured the town of Bukavu on the eastern border with Rwanda last week, triggering concerns it could spark a wider war.Some 90 people have been killed in more than a week of fighting in Bukavu.The renegade troops left Bukavu on Sunday but in fresh violence, two United Nations peacekeepers were shot dead when their convoy was ambushed outside Goma, a border town some 120 km to the north.Congo blames neighbour Rwanda for aiding the rebel troops in the former Belgian colony who say they are fighting government forces to protect fellow Tutsi tribesmen.Rwanda denies any involvement.The European Union approved a French-led emergency intervention force in the north-eastern town of Bunia in June last year, the bloc’s first military deployment outside Europe.- Nampa – Reuters