DRC - Security

Rwandan Hutu rebel spokesman surrenders: radio

Source : AFP 13.02.2009

KIGALI, Feb 13, 2009 (AFP) - A top official for Rwanda's Hutu rebel group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has surrendered to a joint military offensive by Kigali and Kinshasa, government-run Radio Rwanda reported Friday.

According to Radio Rwanda, Lieutenant Colonel Edmond Ngarambe, the military spokesman of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), turned himself in with other rebel fighters on Wednesday.

Ngarambe, whose real name is Michel Habimana, and other senior FDLR commanders -- including Vital Uwumuremyi and Pontien Nkeramihigo -- are currently being held in Rwanda's Rubavu district, near the Congolese border.

A statement read by a man presented by the radio as Ngarambe urged remaining FDLR fighters to "immediately lay down arms and peacefully return to Rwanda."

"We have lost time that will never come back. Our children have not been to school in a long time and we have been powerless to help our families," the radio appeal said.

"I launch a special appeal to (Ignace) Murwanashyaka and (Sylvestre) Mudacumura to authorise FDLR combatants to return to Rwanda. The Congolese regime and people are now against the FDLR."

Murwanashyaka is the Germany-based chairman of the FDLR and Mudacumura is the rebel group's commander in chief.

There was no immediate confirmation of the group surrender by the FDLR.

The FDLR have been operating out of the eastern DRC since the aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 genocide against the Tutsi minority. Some of its members are accused of being among the main perpetrators of the massacres.

Kigali had long accused Kinshasa of sheltering the FDLR and even using them as proxies in the eastern Kivu region but the two governments launched a surprise joint offensive last month.