Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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December 15, 2008

Uganda Says Rebels Damaged in Sunday Attack
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=21062C4:A6F02AD83191E1608CB170593B9F8640D937473925D9872C&
 
Ugandan army reports Lord's Resistance Army suffered 'considerable
damage' during attacks by forces from Uganda, Congo, and southern Sudan 
Uganda's military says the rebel Lord's Resistance Army suffered
"considerable damage" in the assault on its bases in the Democratic
Republic of Congo Sunday. That assessment from spokesman Chris Magezi
Monday came as forces from Uganda, Congo, and southern Sudan continued
their offensive against the LRA.Ugandan army officials say ground troops
were inserted after Ugandan warplanes bombed LRA bases in Congo's
Garamba Forests on Sunday. Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord's Resistance
Army (LRA), answers journalists' questions in Ri-Kwamba, southern Sudan
(2006 file photo)A joint statement from the three governments involved
said the attack destroyed the main base of rebel leader Joseph Kony.
There has been no confirmation of that from independent sources, nor any
word on the fate of Kony and his top aides. David Matsanga, the rebels'
lead negotiator in peace talks with the Ugandan government, told VOA
that the attack was "very regrettable" and that the world must condemn
it. The LRA has waged a 20-year guerrilla war against the Ugandan
government. A 2006 cease-fire ended the fighting in Uganda but the group
has become a regional threat, attacking villages and kidnapping people
in the DRC, southern Sudan, and the Central African Republic. Kony and
two of his aides are wanted by the International Criminal Court on
charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The LRA and the
Ugandan government have negotiated a peace deal but Kony has failed to
show up multiple times to sign the accord. Some information for this
report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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