Regional leaders urge immediate cease-fire in eastern Congo

By CARA ANNA
Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Regional heads of state have called for an immediate cease-fire by all parties in eastern Congo, where tensions have grown amid talk of war as Congo and neighboring Rwanda trade allegations of backing armed rebels. The communique issued at the end of an East African Community summit also directed troop-contributing countries to immediately deploy more troops to a regional force created and sent to eastern Congo last year. The heads of state of Congo and Rwanda attended in what was called in a “cordial and friendly atmosphere.” Some observers fear the toll if the two countries slide again into all-out conflict.