UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland met overnight with Joseph Kony, the elusive leader of Uganda's notorious rebel Lord's Resistance Army and one of the world's most-wanted war crimes suspects. But the brief meeting, hoped to boost peace talks to end northern Uganda's brutal, two-decade war, ended inconclusively, with Mr Kony griping about Kampala and war crimes charges and denying the rebels hold captives, officials said. Despite that, Mr Egeland said he thought it had been "an important meeting because it was the first time we have been able to impress on the highest command of the LRA the whole range of humanitarian issues."
| I'm sure you made a big impression on a natural-born killer. |
Mr Egeland and Mr Kony, who arrived two hours late, shook hands at a remote jungle clearing on the border between southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the top rebel leadership is based. The elusive rebel supremo, who emerged from the bush on foot with heavily armed guards, then met Mr Egeland under a green UN tent in what is believed to be the shadowy guerrilla leader's highest-level international contact ever. After the 10-minute meeting, Mr Kony, clad in civilian garb with sunglasses, a cap and a green shirt, said the LRA are holding no one against their will, adding: "We don't have any children or wounded, only combatants."
| Lots and lots of eleven-year old combatants. Eleven-year old girl combatants. It's a natural thing in that part of the world, Mr. Egeland, you wouldn't understand. |
On his arrival at the heavily guarded site, where he first met Mr Kony's number two Vincent Otti for 40 minutes, Mr Egeland said he wanted "to talk about women, children and (the) sick" allegedly held by the LRA. |