NEW YORK - UN Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan asked the five permanent Security Council members yesterday to warn Zaire and its neighbours not to turn a huge refugee camp - into a battleground.
The request was given to envoys of the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia, and diplomats said they would convey the warning to the governments of Zaire, Rwanda and Uganda. At risk are 150,000 Rwandan refugees in the makeshift Tingi Tingi camps in eastern Zaire.
Former Hutu Rwandan soldiers and militia in the settlement are receiving weapons, ammunition and uniforms, presumably from the Zairean army, in its battle against rebel forces, the UN said.
Diplomats said Sadako Ogata, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, had indications rebel forces were preparing to launch an offensive against the encampment. Mr Annan said he told the five ambassadors of his "deep concern" about the "militarization" of the camp.
