FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM AFRICA'S TURBULENT GREAT LAKES REGION ON FRIDAY CALLED ON THE UNITED NATIONS AND AFRICAN UNION TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON LEADERS OF REBEL ARMED GROUPS DESTABILISING THE AREA, ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THOUSANDS OF REBELS FROM BURUNDI, RWANDA AND UGANDA HAVE TAKEN SHELTER IN LARGELY LAWLESS EASTERN DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REGION HAS BEEN MARRED BY VIOLENCE AND CONFLICT FOR YEARS. "THE COMMISSION HAS AGREED TO ASK THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION AND UNITED NATIONS TO IMPOSE SANCTIONS ON IDENTIFIED LEADERS OF REBEL GROUPS," BURUNDI'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER ANTOINETTE BATUMUBWIRA SAID IN A JOINT COMMUNIQUE FOR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, RWANDA AND UGANDA AS WELL AS BURUNDI. BATUMUBWIRA SAID THE COUNTRIES, WHOSE MINISTERS MET IN BURUNDI'S CAPITAL, WERE COMMITTED TO PURSUING DISARMAMENT. "THE COMMISSION RECOMMITTED ITSELF TO REFUSING ANY SUPPORT TO LEADERS OF ARMED GROUPS THAT DESTABILISE NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES," SHE SAID. GROUPS MENTIONED INCLUDE THE LORD RESISTANCE ARMY IN UGANDA, KNOWN FOR TARGETING CIVILIANS, MUTILATING SURVIVORS AND KIDNAPPING SOME 25,000 CHILDREN DURING ITS 20-YEAR INSURGENCY. --MORE 2017 Local Time 1717 GMT
