Kinshasa, 30 December 2008 -- In the CNDP's communiqué of 24 December 2008 and in a letter addressed by its leader Mr. Laurent Nkunda on 26 December last to Mr. Alan Doss, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for the DR Congo, the CNDP protested what they described as the "redeployment of coalition troops" in the zones disengaged by the CNDP, situated in the vicinity of Goma airport.

Following MONUC's investigations on the ground, the Special Representative addressed a letter on 29 December last to Mr. Nkunda, in which the Mission informed the CNDP that "MONUC did not notice any such movement from the FARDC into the zones indicated."

The Special Representative however voiced his concern over the closeness of the FARDC and CNDP positions in Kibati. He also reiterated his appeal to the two parties "to refrain from taking any initiatives likely to provoke new hostilities."

The Special Representative further reiterated "the Mission's availability to work with all the parties towards reducing markedly the tensions on the ground."

Mr. Doss took the opportunity to recall to both parties "the need for guaranteeing free movement of persons and their goods, as well as refraining from any act likely to infringe on the basic rights of civilians, notably the displaced."