Another person central to his roundabout journey to becoming DR Congo's vice-president was Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

BBC: Profile: Jean-Pierre Bemba

They have become disillusioned with the Ugandan president over the past 18 months.

ECONOMIST: Congo��s hidden war

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni last month said gay people should not be killed or persecuted, but he also stressed homosexuality should not be promoted either.

BBC: David Cecil: Uganda 'drops gay play charges'

Speaking after a meeting with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Burundi, Mr Zuma once again threatened "appropriate action" if rebels do not sign a peace deal.

BBC: New deadline set for Burundi truce

The President called Ugandan President Museveni this morning and expressed his sincere condolences for the loss of life and offered to provide any support or assistance that the Ugandan government requests.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Rwandan officials now speak of the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, with open contempt, arguing that he has given extremists in the Ugandan miltiary free reign while also sabotaging the rebellion in Congo by encouraging the fragmentation of the main rebel movements.

BBC: Kisangani's cathedral 'in flames'

Its report, released in mid-April, is extraordinarily detailed, naming Major-General Salim Saleh, the brother of Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, among the senior Ugandan and Rwandan commanders whom it accuses of stealing diamonds, gold, coltan (a mineral), timber and ivory.

ECONOMIST: Congo