Citation
PRETORIA, June 29 (AFP) - A Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) official
warned Wednesday that rebels would attack French troops in the central
African country if they strayed from their humanitarian mission.
RPF associate director of international relations Ben Rugangazi called
the deployment of French soldiers in the midst of the civil war a
colonial venture which will only worsen the situation.
We hope the French are going to abide by their humanitarian role of
escorting human convoys and food,
Rugangazi said.
If they want to supply the government (with arms) we shall see that
as a direct violation of the mandate and we will have to confront
them,
he said.
Rugangazi also engaged in a slanging match with the Rwandan consul
general in South Africa, Francois Bararwerekana, who described the RPF
official's address as a package of lies.
Some 2,500 French troops are expected to be deployed in Rwanda to
stabilise the country plagued by ongoing civil war and widespread
massacres of civilians.
str-cr/bm AFP AFP
