Congo (DRC)

A group of rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda has surrendered to UN forces in the Congo (DRC). The UN says the 15 insurgents approached their positions with orders the peacekeepers to retreat. But after more than an hour of discussion, the rebels accepted to “lay down their arms and surrender” to be reintegrated into the regular army. There have been weeks of fighting between the army and Gen Nkunda’s men. Meanwhile, authorities in the northwestern province of Equateur have imposed a nighttime curfew in the area until further notice in a bid to curb insecurity, including murder and extortion by armed men. (BBC, IRIN)