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A human rights activist in the Rutshuru district north of Goma that is under rebel control said he interviewed two teenagers who managed to escape. "They said they were among eight forced to carry heavy boxes of ammunition from the Rwandan border. Then the rebels gave them uniforms and said they were going to teach them to shoot. The two escaped because they were sent to fetch water," said the activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from rebel fighters. Rwanda is accused by a U.N. report of supporting the rebels, a charge Rwandan leaders deny. Regional leaders meeting in Uganda over violence in eastern Congo have postponed a decision on the composition of a proposed neutral international force, saying the matter is subject to further discussions. In their final report, read out by Uganda's foreign affairs minister on Wednesday, regional presidents said they recognize the "gravity" of the crisis in eastern Congo and proposed sanctions "against those who obstruct the peace efforts." Another meeting to be held later this month will "work out the modalities" of such a force, according to documents released by summit officials, meaning that the rebellion in eastern Congo is not likely to be quelled immediately. The U.N. mission in Congo expressed "deep concern" over growing evidence of forced recruitment by the M23 for both combat and non-combat purposes. Over 100 cases have been documented of civilians being forcibly recruited by the M23 since April 2012, the U.N. mission said in a statement, adding that the total number may be much higher.
[Associated
Press;
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