Report: Nkunda recruiting from Rwanda army

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Gen. Laurent Nkunda has recruited fighters for his rebel force in the eastern Congo from the Rwandan army, The Telegraph reported Thursday.

President Paul Kagame has denied that Rwanda is supporting Nkunda. But the newspaper said he appears to be allowing Nkunda to operate in Rwandan territory and to get fresh recruits from its army.

The recent flare-up of violence in the Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo has forced at least 250,000 people from their homes. Thousands of civilians may have been killed by the Congolese army, militias loyal to the government and Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of the People.

About 800,000 Hutus from Rwanda are living in Kivu. They fled across the border after the 1994 genocide when Hutus massacred thousands of Tutsis.

The Hutus in Kivu are a common enemy for Nkunda and the present Rwandan government.

One 27-year-old told The Telegraph he joined the CNDP after serving until last month as a platoon commander in the Rwandan army.

"I decided to join them because fighting for the CNDP is like fighting for Rwanda." he said.