On Tuesday 16 October 2007, the Kinshasa press makes its headlines with the meeting yesterday in Goma between president Kabila and the ambassadors of Belgium, France, the United Kingdom and South Africa, as well as MONUC head William Swing.

Essentially, believes Le Potentiel, "their talks related to the tactics to be used with respect to rebel general Laurent Nkunda for the beginning of the disarmament of its combatants, and their integration into the ranks of the national army."

Nevertheless "for the MONUC boss, the political option must be privileged over a military confrontation with disastrous consequences for the population," said L'Observateur.

The reason, explains Le Palmarès, is "the accredited diplomats in Kinshasa fear the imminence of a new offensive from the governmental army."

"If the FARDC who has deployed at least 15,000 soldiers do not manage to militarily overcome Nkunda and his men, the credibility of Kabila and his government will be seriously questioned," warns La Tempête des Tropiques.

In this light, explains La Tempête des Tropiques, "the credibility of Joseph Kabila is on the line after the expiry of the ultimatum launched at Laurent Kunda."

The ex General, which "until he states otherwise has laid down three conditions in order that his men join brassage centres following dialogue with government representatives," informs Le Potentiel.

The three requirements: "...the return of Congolese tutsi refugees in bordering countries, mainly in Rwanda and Burundi... the neutralization of genocidal Rwandans which are responsible for genocide in Rwanda and which are in DRC, therefore the FDLR or Interahamwe... and the conditions of Nkunda's departure into exile," details Le Potentiel.

And, if these conditions are satisfied said Le Potentiel, "nothing would stop him from asking his men to join the ranks of the national army, and he himself would declare himself ready to go into exile."

On the same subject, "the governor of North Kivu province who demanded an international survey on the military support for Nkunda", reports Le Phare, while "the inhabitants of Masisi centre protested last Saturday against MONUC blue helmets for supporting Nkunda."

The population protested, underlines Le Phare, "following a rumour indicating that the UN mission had traced a white line preventing the FARDC from dislodging the insurrectionists."