DRC/Rwanda: Annan Welcomes Repatriation of More Than 100 Rwandan Rebels From DRC

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed the voluntary repatriation of more than 100 high-level members of the rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) and called on other armed Rwandans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to seize the opportunity to return home. He congratulated Rwanda and the FDLR leaders "for the strength of the political will demonstrated by them to negotiate this repatriation, and to end the long-standing conflict through peaceful means," a UN spokesperson, Marie Okabe, told the daily news briefing. "This development represents a major breakthrough in the peace process," she said.