January 9, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 24, 1422

KINSHASA, Jan 8: Burundi has agreed to pull its troops out of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where it helped fight a three-year war involving half a dozen nations, a joint statement by the two governments said on Tuesday.

The withdrawal is conditional on arrangements being put in place to monitor the agreement, the statement said.

Bujumbura, which along with Rwanda and Uganda backed rebels fighting the DRC government, also decided to re-establish relations with Kinshasa following a two-day visit here by Burundi’s Foreign and Cooperation Minister.—AFP