Congolese flee rebels for Uganda

Some 13,000 people have fled into Uganda from a rebel advance in the Democratic Republic of Congo in just two days, the UN refugee agency says. Some of those who crossed the border said their relatives had been killed by the rebels of General Laurent Nkunda. His forces declared a ceasefire last week but say this does not apply to operations against foreign militia and they are now attacking Rwandan Hutus. Earlier, the EU was urged to send forces to stop the DR Congo fighting. Sixteen former top officials and world leaders sent a letter to EU heads of state, saying they were best placed to intervene because it would take too long for the UN to send reinforcements.