DATE=8/29/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S/CONGO INVESTIGATION (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265959
BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE
DATELINE=STATE DEPARTMENT
CONTENT=
INTRO: The State Department says its top
investigator for war crimes has found a growing
pattern of atrocities against civilians in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-Kinshasa).
Correspondent Nick Simeone reports the findings could
lead to war crimes charges being brought against any
of the combatants in the country's civil war.
TEXT: Ambassador at Large for War Crimes David
Scheffer just completed a four day trip to eastern
Congo to look into allegations of crimes against
humanity being carried out by any of a number of
forces in the region. A U-S spokesman says the trip
uncovered evidence of widespread acts of wanton terror
being carried out against people living in the Kivu
region.
And, investigators say they found the violence to be
increasing, citing a pattern of destruction carried
out by agents of the Congolese government as well as
by rebel armies and troops from Rwanda and Uganda.
The two countries sent forces to Congo to back
President Laurent Kabila's overthrow of longtime
dictator Mobutu Sese Seko three years ago but have
since turned against each other.
Ambassador Scheffer's findings are based on interviews
with victims and meetings with a range of
international and local organizations present in
Congo. State Department Spokesman Phil Reeker
strongly suggests the evidence Ambassador Scheffer's
team found could result in war crimes charges being
brought against any of the multiple forces active in
Congo.
President Kabila's government is sending mixed signals
about whether he is willing to end his country's civil
war by accepting a United Nations-backed peace plan.
(SIGNED)
NEB/NJS/PT
29-Aug-2000 17:57 PM EDT (29-Aug-2000 2157 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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