MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UN Uruguayan forces instructed to open fire in Goma defence

Uruguayan peace keeping forces are under instructions from United Nations to protect the Congolese city of Goma, which is threatened by advancing rebels led by Laurent Nkunda, according to statements from Alain Le Roy, head of UN peace keeping operations.

"In case of armed groups wanting to force their way into Goma, we have given instructions to open fire", said Le Roy during an early morning press conference in Goma, capital of North Kivu to the east of Congo and bordering with Rwanda and Uganda. Goma has been flooded by fleeing refugees. Le Roy said UN reinforcements from the MONUC operation had arrived in Goma, where an estimated one thousand blue helmets are already stationed. However the UN official did not reveal numbers. Laurent Nkunda rebels for over a week now are located 15 kilometres from Goma after having inflicted a punishing defeat to the Congolese army which withdrew in disarray, looting and raping along the way. Uruguayan troops have been instructed to defend a perimeter a few kilometres to the east of Goma. Although according to Army sources in Montevideo, Uruguayan troops have not been forced to open fire so far, for the second day running they have come under cross-fire between Nkunda militias (supposedly supported from Rwanda) and Mai Mai self defence groups allied to the government in Kinshasa, near to the village of Rutshuru. A Mai Mai group's spokesperson admitted that both sides are trying to consolidate positions and blamed Nkunda for attempting to recover lost ground. Nkunda blamed the Congolese government for the resumption of hostilities and warned that it was a unilateral breach of the cease fire. Nkunda last week decided on a unilateral cease fire, respected by all sides, arguing he did not want to inflict more punishment to the displaced population. According to Unicef an estimated 250.000 people (including 60.000 children) have been forced to flee their home and land because of the heavy fighting. The Red Cross Committee began this week distributing relief aid (water, food and medicines) among 65.000 refugees. Meantime on the diplomatic front Kenya will host an international conference on Congo with the participation of African countries leaders and to which has been invited UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.