CURRENT NEWS ITEM: DR CONGO: CONGOLESE TROOPS CLASH WITH THEIR OWN MILITIA ALLIES

TOP - 50 RELEVANT BREAKING NEWS

1. DR CONGO: Congolese troops clash with their own militia allies

   Demoralised Congolese government troops clashed with local Mai Mai militias trying to halt their retreat before eastern rebels. Meanwhile, Tutsi general Nkunda's troops pledged to retreat 40 kilometres back towards the eastern border.

2. Congo rebels clash with militia

   Rebel forces and local militia clash for a second day north of Goma in eastern DR Congo, UN and militia sources say.

3. Fresh Congo fighting as militia troops attack renegade general

   Fresh fighting broke out yesterday between rebels and a pro-government militia in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

4. DR CONGO: UN troops open retaliatory fire on Mai-Mai militia

   UN peacekeepers opened fire after pro-government Mai-Mai militia attacked them in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to a UN spokesman. There were no details of any casualties.

5. Shiite fighters clash with Iraqi, U.S. troops in Baghdad

   Supporters of Muqtada Sadr accuse the U.S. of a role in the bombing in the Iraqi capital that killed a lawmaker in the cleric's bloc. Clashes between Shiite Muslim militants and U.S. and Iraqi troops erupted in east Baghdad on Thursday night when groups loyal to anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada Sadr accused Washington of orchestrating the assassination of a popular lawmaker.

6. World Briefing | Africa: Congo: Rebels Clash With Army

   Congolese Army tanks pounded rebel-held hilltops and repelled an attack on a military base in the east in the latest round of fighting, which has displaced 150,000 people, the U.N. said.

7. Thai and Cambodian troops clash

   Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border, wounding at least six and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to get out of Cambodia

8. Thai, Cambodian troops clash on border, two killed

   PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia (Reuters) - Thai and Cambodian troops fired rockets and small arms at each other on a disputed stretch of border on Wednesday, killing two Cambodians and prompting Bangkok to tell its citizens to return home.

9. Taliban and Pakistani militia clash

   After a tribesman is beheaded, militants come under attack.

10. Chaos on road to Goma as Congolese troops retreat

    KILIMANYOKA, Congo (AP) -- We drove away from this village filled with refugees where babies wailed and mothers shouted for food and money. Soon the desperate clamor was replaced by eerie silence. Nothing moved in the lush tropical forest....

11. France ready to deploy EU troops to Congo after ceasefire

    Rebels in the eastern part of Congo declared a ceasefire Wednesday after thousands of displaced residents fleeing an upsurge in fighting began entering the eastern provincial capital Goma, threatening to overwhelm a 17,000-strong UN force.

12. U.N.: Congo troops rampage as rebels near

    Congolese soldiers pillaged, raped and also killed at least nine people in overnight violence that terrorized residents of this eastern provincial capital besieged by rebels, according to U.N. radio.

13. Congo-Kinshasa: Government Troops 'On the Rampage'

    While much of the criticism over the sharp escalation of violence in North Kivu has been levelled at troops loyal to renegade general Laurent Nkunda, on the night of 29 October, government troops reportedly went on the rampage in Goma.

14. Britain 'may need to send troops to Congo'

    Britain may need to send troops to the war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo if diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the crisis fail, a Foreign Office minister warned today.

15. UK troops 'will not go to Congo'

    David Miliband says British troops will not be sent to join UN troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo "at the moment".

16. EU to send aid to Congo, mulls sending troops

    The European Union is ready to send humanitarian aid to civilians fleeing conflict in eastern Congo, but needs to consider further whether it will send European troops, France's foreign minister said

17. Europe to help east Congo, but cool on troops

    KIBATI, Congo (Reuters) - Two European ministers promised help on Saturday to desperate refugees who have fled fighting in east Congo, but played down the idea of the European Union sending troops there to protect civilians.

18. U.K.: Europe Could Send Troops To Congo

    The European Union could send troops to Congo if a fragile cease-fire between rebel fighters and the army fails, a U.K. official said, as rebels forced tens of thousands of people from refugee camps in the insurgent-held zone.

19. British troops may be sent to back up UN in Congo

    British troops could be sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a European force to deal with the humanitarian crisis if a fragile ceasefire collapses, the Government said yesterday.

20. Europe Weighs Sending Congo Troops

    The European Union is ready to send humanitarian aid to civilians fleeing conflict in eastern Congo, but it needs to consider whether it will send European troops.

21. British troops may protect aid in Congo

    Contingency plans have been drawn up to send British troops to the Congo to try to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe if the security situation continues to deteriorate.

22. UK plays down troops for DR Congo

    British troops would only be used to boost the UN peacekeeping force as a "last case contingency," says minister Bill Rammell.

23. Congo rebels battle pro-government militia

    GOMA, Congo (AP) -- Heavy fighting erupted for a second day Wednesday between rebels and a pro-government militia in Congo's lawless east, but a wider cease-fire was holding around this provincial capital, U.N. officials and a rebel commander said....

24. Congo ceasefire maintained despite militia clashes

    Rebel leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda says he will maintain a week-old ceasefire in eastern Congo despite growing conflicts between his fighters and pro-government militia.

25. Congo troops 'looting villages'

    Army troops have been looting and targeting civilians in villages in eastern DR Congo, a UN spokesman says.

26. UN says Congolese troops raped, pillaged villages

    GOMA, Congo (AP) -- Hundreds of Congolese soldiers rampaged through several villages in eastern Congo, raping women and pillaging homes as they pulled back ahead of a feared rebel advance, the U.N. reported Tuesday....

27. Congo's Troops Rape and Loot In Volatile East

    GOMA, Congo, Nov. 11 -- Hundreds of Congolese soldiers rampaged through several villages in eastern Congo, raping women and pillaging homes as they pulled back ahead of a feared rebel advance, U.N. officials reported Tuesday.

28. Angola prepared to send troops to Congo

    GOMA, Congo (AP) -- Angola announced Wednesday it is prepared to send troops to neighboring Congo, heightening fears that the fighting in this central African nation will engulf other countries in the region....

29. Angola Mobilizes Troops to Aid Congo Conflict

    Angola announced Wednesday it is mobilizing troops to send to neighboring Congo, heightening fears that the fighting in this central African nation will engulf other countries in the region.

30. Angola promises troops as Congo peace fades

    Angola has said it will send troops into the Democratic Republic of Congo, say agencies, as U.N. officials claim that Congolese soldiers have raped women, looted villages and ransacked homes in the wartorn region.

31. U.N: Congo troops raping and looting

    Angola has said it will send troops into the Democratic Republic of Congo, say agencies, as U.N. officials claim that Congolese soldiers have raped women, looted villages and ransacked homes in the wartorn region.

32. Angola says it will send troops into Congo

    Angola has said it will send troops into the Democratic Republic of Congo, say agencies, as U.N. officials claim that Congolese soldiers have raped women, looted villages and ransacked homes in the war-torn region.

33. DR CONGO: UN peacekeepers lack troops, logistics, clarity

    Diplomats and other observers say the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo suffers from inadequate troops, logistical deficiencies and a "schizophrenic" mandate that makes it powerless to protect those in need.