But he has disappointingly little to show for his efforts, despite withdrawing the army from a 16,000-square-mile zone of rebel-controlled territory to encourage negotiations.

Late last week, relief officials saw a village in flames on the Rwanda side of the river in rebel-controlled territory.

He walked for two and a half hours across a no man's land and entered rebel-controlled territory early this afternoon.

Since August, when the fighting intensified, no construction materials, including fuel, have been allowed across the line between government- and rebel-controlled territory.

Journalists are required to travel with armed escorts in rebel-controlled territory and are closely monitored.

The talks, which had been stalled for months, were held in a swath of rebel-controlled territory.

The main highway connecting rebel-controlled territory with the rest of the country was closed indefinitely, the officials said.

He also embarked on a well-publicized tour aimed at reaching out to residents in rebel-controlled territory.

Sketchy reports from rebel-controlled territory also suggest that food and ammunition are in short supply.

This situation began in December, when South Africa stopped flying aid, and also journalists, into rebel-controlled territory.