Cease-Fire Proposal Drafted for Congo

Talks on ending 11 months of war in neighboring Congo received fresh impetus when military officials completed a draft cease-fire document in Lusaka, the Zambian capital. Officials said regional ministers would discuss the document today. It calls on the warring parties to “observe a troop standstill” and includes the deployment of peacekeepers. If approved, it would pave the way for a planned peace summit of African heads of state in Lusaka. The conflict in Congo, formerly Zaire, has involved armies from at least six African nations. Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad have given support to embattled Congolese President Laurent Kabila while Uganda and Rwanda back rebels who control territory in eastern and southern Congo.