President Paul Kagame has again refuted allegations that Rwanda is aiding Congolese rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda.

Speaking to Arabic cable television channel Al Jazeera on Wednesday, Kagame said the clashes in eastern DR Congo were a result of a misunderstanding between General Nkunda and the Kinshasa government.

"You have a government using people and making them fight against each other; this has created reasons for Nkunda. He is fighting to defend his people,” he said.

Early this week, some media reports said that Nkunda was receiving support from the government of Rwanda.

The Kigali government has continued to deny its involvement in the latest fighting in the eastern Congo, but international organisations allege that it is channeling military assistance to Nkunda.

The clashes between General Nkunda’s troops have seen 160,000 people displaced from their homes in the eastern part of the country, according to UN agencies.

Last week, Nkunda refuted allegations that Rwanda was backing his rebellion against President Joseph Kabila’s government.

"We have enough support from our people especially in Masisi because we protect them, construct roads and above all, we have established law and order in the areas that we control – something which the Kinshasa government has failed to do,” he said.

He accused Kinshasa of instead mobilising elements responsible for the 1994 Rwanda Genocide, Forces for the Democratic Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) to attack specific Congolese civilians.

Nkunda also said the problem in eastern Congo has been caused by the Congolese government which has consistently armed FDLR.

"The Congolese government has continued mobilising extremist Hutu elements to attack and loot our people, most them Tutsis residing in Masisi,” he said.


Ends