afrol News, 5 June - DR Congo has decided to back Ugandan government to act against country's rebels, Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) after peace talks with its elusive leader Mr Joseph Kony ended without a breakthrough.

Mr kony who has been hiding in eastern DR Congo in recent peace talks, in fear of being detained for war crimes, failed to sign peace deal reached in March this year. The rebels demand withdrawal of arrest warrants by International Criminal Court (ICC) on Kony and few other leaders before it signs the deal.

Uganda began negotiations with the insurgents in 2006 to end the brutal war that has left thousands dead or mutilated and close to 2 million others displaced in its northern region.

Ugandan officials, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) met the Congolese and Ugandan army in Kampala Monday to find a military solution to LRA.

Ugandan army spokesman Major Paddy Ankunda said the room was still open for peace talks, but on the other hand said military is ready to act against insurgents who had shown that they are not ready to put arms down.

Kony and two of his deputies are wanted for multiple war crimes such as massacres, rapes, mutilation and abducting children and civilians forcing them into combatants in the 21-year civil war.

Uganda had been troubled by LRA since 1986, which seeks to overthrow the Ugandan Government. Although LRA does not seem a serious threat to the stability of the government, violence perpetuated has left hundred of thousand people displaced. Uganda had in 2002 conducted operations against LRA sanctuaries in southern Sudan with the permission of the Sudanese Government, which has in the past supported LRA.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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