DR Congo Ex-leader Rejects Harbouring Islamist Rebels

The Democratic Republic of Congo, has rejected accusations from neighbouring Uganda that he gave sanctuary to an Islamist rebel group and allowed it to exploit mineral resources.

Last week the Ugandan leader, Yoweri Museveni, said Mr Kabila had allowed the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) to set up large camps and to mine gold and sell timber.

The ADF was created in the 1990s and took up arms against President Museveni, alleging persecution of Muslims.

The gratuitous false accusations of President Museveni, who is one of the main destabilisers in the region, are simply ridiculous and aim to distract the Congolese people and divide them,” Mr Kabila told the Reuters news agency.

Last year a top UN court ordered Uganda to pay the Kinshasa government hundreds of millions of dollars in reparations for atrocities committed during a war in eastern DR Congo.

The latest row comes a month after ADF rebels were blamed for killing more than 42 students at a school in western Uganda.

BBC/Jide Johnson.