Rwanda denies helping DR Congo mutineers

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KIGALI, Rwanda, June 26 (UPI) -- Rwanda's foreign minister denied reports Tuesday her country is supporting an army mutiny in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Louise Mushikiwabo, responding to an unpublished report by United Nations experts, said Rwanda has been urging the rebels to negotiate rather than defect, the BBC reported.

"Rwanda's top army leadership in no way would be involved in destroying the peace they have been working very hard to build," Mushikiwabo told the United Nations.

The unpublished report, viewed by the BBC, cites defecting soldiers who said they were trained in Rwanda under the pretext of joining the army before being sent to the Congo to fight.

The Congolese government has written the U.N. Security Council demanding publication of the report and asking that Rwanda be pressured to halt support for the mutineers.

Diplomats said the delay in publishing was sought by the United States to give Rwanda a chance to respond.