Glimmer of hope for troubled nation as militia groups agree to disarm

THREE main militia groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed to lay down their arms ahead of historic elections this weekend, the UN said yesterday.

The news offered a glimmer of hope the same day clashes at a campaign rally left at least one person dead and underlined tensions in the Central African nation.

Voters will replace a transitional president and parliament that have led the country since a 2002 peace agreement that ended fighting in most of the country, though not in the east.