"Congo Rebels Seize Park HQ at Rumangabo After Intense Fighting"

"Fighting at Rumangabo started at 0400 today between the rebels of Laurent Nkunda and the army. It has now totally engulfed the park station and our Rangers have been forced to flee into the forests for their lives. The rebels now are the only occupants of the park station at Rumangabo. This has never happened before."

"Innocent just called me to say that Bushe Nzabonimpa has arrived at Rusayo, on the edge of the forest just north west of Goma. He is in a state of exhaustion and dehydration having walked for five days with very little water and no food. We will pick him up in the morning with a motorbike, as it is now dark in Goma and too dangerous to be outdoors. One of the families in Rusayo has invited him to stay and will look after him for the night.
Bitege Rwangano arrived earlier, with his wife. He had been badly beaten up, and his wife was not well, from having walked the agonizing 40 km through the forest. We have taken them both to the clinic for treatment.
There is a bit of sporadic firing in the streets but it is much less intense than yesterday. The tension is beginning to diminish. Tomorrow, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Africa is supposed to be coming to Goma to help with the negotiations. Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for International Development is in Kinshasa and the Belgian Foreign Minister Carol de Gujt, is supposed to arrive in Kigali. Let’s hope… "