Congo Rebels Say Peace Hopes Dim After Bombings
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KINSHASA, Congo — The government Thursday rejected charges that its forces bombed two rebel-held villages in the north of the country.
One rebel group reported that 524 people were killed in a bombing raid by Sudan, a government ally. It and another group said they were reconsidering their commitment to a fragile peace process.
There was no independent confirmation of rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba’s account. The villages--more than 500 miles northeast of the capital, Kinshasa--are in swampy regions accessible only by boat or helicopter.
Bemba said 390 civilians and 134 of his fighters were killed Wednesday when two Sudanese aircraft flying on behalf of the government of Congolese President Laurent Kabila dropped 18 bombs on Makanza and Bogbonga.
In Kinshasa, Congolese Information Minister Didier Mumengi said he did not know about any bombing.
Bemba said the attack shattered a peace deal he signed Sunday.
The main rebel group, the Congolese Rally for Democracy, has not signed the agreement.
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