In a press briefing held today at Village Urugwiro, President Paul Kagame reaffirmed that the security of Rwandans is guaranteed and that the country has enough resources, will and capacity to carry out this responsibility. He was responding to a question from a journalist who asked whether the unrest in the eastern DR Congo could eventually affect Rwanda.

For the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Head of State said that Rwanda's stand on the court was made 10 years ago -- the reason why it chose not be a signatory. He also said that ICC is a political court that renders justice selectively.

President Kagame also said that Rwanda and United States are still allies, despite the latter suspending military aid due to the accusations that Rwanda is recruiting child soldiers. "First of all, we can't be held responsible for what's happening in DRC. Again, Rwanda Defense Forces is a professional and disciplined army that can't recruit child soldiers."

He said that it's natural for friends to have disagreements and that those who are recruiting child soldiers must be held accountable because what they are doing is wrong.

Further details and full story in tomorrow's issue of The New Times.