Congo rebels appear to pull back

Rebels appeared to be pulling back as promised Wednesday in an area home to some of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas, offering some hope that Congo’s latest war may be easing.

The rebels had taken control of Rwindi, the headquarters of Virunga National Park, early Monday.

But on Wednesday, Rwindi’s main road was empty, with rebels seen only to the south, setting up a checkpoint at a park station abandoned by rangers. About two dozen rebels – and several dozen elephants – could be seen.

The rebels have been planning talks with the army and say they will consider a demarcation zone to keep the forces apart. It was not clear, though, when the talks would be held.

Further north, in the army-occupied hilltop village of Kirumba, two charred bodies and scattered debris from looted shops littered the red earth road.