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KIGALI, Aug 4 (AFP) - Rebels in Rwanda have violated the ceasefire introduced three days ago at least seven times, Defence Minister James Gasana said on the radio Tuesday.
Most violations had occured Saturday, the first day of the latest bid to halt almost two years of fighting which has displaced a quarter of a million people.
Gasana said rebels had been deliberately provocative by moving very close to government troop positions, and Monday had kept up steady fire on emplacements near Rukomo in the northeast.
The government was committed to strict observance of the ceasefire, but if rebel provocations continued, people would have to defend themselves, the minister warned.
An Organisation of African Unity official meanwhile said military officers from Senegal were expected here later Tuesday to supervise the ceasefire as neutral observers, and were to be joined by officers from Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
mgu/jaw/gk AFP AFP SEQN-0166
