STORM CLOUDS GATHER OVER THE EASTERN CONGOLESE CITY OF KISANGANI, 2002-09-20 (photo)

Storm clouds gather over the eastern Congolese city of Kisangani, lying on the banks of the mighty river Congo on September 20, 2002. Rwanda has pledged to withdraw its forces from the third of the Democratic Republic of Congo it controls under a peace deal signed in July, 2002, leaving its rebel RCD allies in control of much of the territory it has vacated. Kisangani, a major diamond trading centre, is already in the hands of the RCD, but there are fears that smaller towns in the lawless east might fall prey to greater instability when Rwanda, the most powerful military force in the many-sided conflict, pulls back. REUTERS/Antony Njuguna AN/AH