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US Decries 'Cowardly Massacre' in Democratic Republic of Congo

United States Department of State (Washington, DC)
DOCUMENT
July 13, 2005
Posted to the web July 14, 2005
Washington, DC
Calls on Rwandan rebels, other foreign militias to disarm and withdraw
In the wake of a "brutal and cowardly massacre of civilians" in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DROC) July 9, the State Department issued a statement July
13 calling on Rwandan rebel forces operating in the eastern part of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo to disarm and repatriate immediately, and for
other armed militia forces to disarm," to permit re-establishment of secure and
stable conditions throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo under the
authority and control of that nation's government."
Following is the text of the statement:
The United States condemns the brutal and cowardly massacre of civilians that
took place on July 9 in Ntulumamba, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the
Congo. Initial reports indicate that about 40 people, mostly women and
children, were deliberately murdered by armed men who forced the victims into
buildings, which were then burned.
This attack underscores the need for Rwandan rebel forces operating in the
eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to disarm and repatriate
immediately. It is equally important that other armed militia forces disarm, in
order to permit reestablishment of secure and stable conditions throughout the
Democratic Republic of the Congo under the authority and control of that
nation's government.
We fully support the United Nations Mission to the Congo's decision to dispatch
immediately a mission to the area to determine the facts about the attack and
identify those responsible. The United States joins the international community
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in calling for those guilty of such
barbarous acts to be brought to justice.

   

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