Angry Words Mark Start of Congo Talks
Archenemies in Congo’s war traded angry words at the start of peace talks, showing little inclination to make the compromises that a desperate population is praying will end three years of fighting.
Rebels, government officials, political parties and civic groups are meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to try to end a war believed to have claimed more than 1 million lives.
But Congolese President Joseph Kabila and key rebel leaders failed to attend the opening ceremony of a planned 45 days of discussion Monday night, angering delegates.
“We are utterly pessimistic,” said Kin-Kiey Mulumba of the Congolese Rally for Democracy rebel group.
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