Kampala, Oct 20, SPA -- Uganda said Saturday that it has beefed up itforces on its south-western border with the Democratic Republic ofCongo (DRC) in readiness for a spill-over of fighting as Congolesegovernment troops prepare an offensive against renegade forces led bya dissenting military general. Army officials told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that hundreds ofcivilians, mostly traders, were stranded in the main south-westerntown of Bunagana on the Congolese border, 490 kilometres fromKampala. They fear being caught up in clashes between the Congolese armyand forces of General Laurent Nkunda, an ethnic Tutsi who claims heis protecting his tribesmen from other groups and the rival RwandanHutu rebels in Congo's volatile North Kivu region, military sourcessaid. The Congolese government had given Nkunda seven days to disarm andthe deadline is due to expire soon. If Nkunda's forces cross into Uganda, this would be unacceptableand they would have to come unarmed and surrender to authorities, theregional military spokesman, Lieutenant Tabaro Kiconco told dpa.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/491787