6 Countries, Rebels OK Congo Pullback

Defense chiefs from six African countries as well as rebel groups fighting in Congo signed a pact in Harare, the Zimbabwean capital, to begin withdrawing troops from front-line positions later this month. But Namibia’s high commissioner, or ambassador, to Zimbabwe expressed concern that the accord could fail for lack of a formal signature from one of the main rebel organizations. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who has deployed a quarter of his country’s army in Congo, formerly Zaire, urged the warring parties to cooperate in pulling their forces back at least nine miles.