Annan sets Congo talks at NAM

Annan sets Congo talks at NAM

DURBAN, South Africa (AP): Seeking to end a civil war in Congo that has dragged in its neighbors, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that he was "very encouraged" by peace talks at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit.

Annan presided over a breakfast meeting of heads of state from Zimbabwe and Angola, who have backed Congolese President Laurent Kabila. Congo representatives were at the talks. Congo delegate Kikaya bin Karubi said Kabila did not attend and had flown back to Congo.

South African President Nelson Mandela also attended the meeting, where instead of celebrating the unity of developing countries, the summit of 53 heads of government has seen divisiveness caused by the Congo war.

Kabila made a surprise appearance at the summit Wednesday, when he blasted Rwanda and Uganda, saying they invaded his vast central African country. He asked the summit to "unequivocally condemn the aggression" and request their troops' withdrawal from Congo.