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DR of Congo: UN, British officials travel north for talks in peace process

DR of Congo: UN, British officials travel north for talks in peace process

The United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) reported today that the Mission's top military officer, accompanied by a high-ranking official of the British Government, travelled to the north of the country to meet with the leader of a rebel movement.

General Mountaga Diallo, MONUC's Force Commander and acting head, and visiting British Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Clare Short, were scheduled to meet with the leader of the Mouvement de Libération du Congo (MLC), Jean-Pierre Bemba. The meeting in Gbadolite aimed to review with Mr. Bemba the peace process within the framework of the Lusaka Ceasefire agreement and the Kampala and Harare disengagement plans.

In other news, a UN spokesman said today that a humanitarian boat convoy heading towards Mogalo in Equateur Province was now scheduled to arrive on 12 August, two days ahead of schedule. A MONUC team left Kinshasa on Wednesday for Equateur province to meet with MLC officials to prepare for the boat's arrival.