Goma - Congolese officials yesterday gave up hope of rescuing any of the 100 people trapped in a capsized lake ferry and said a lack of heavy lifting gear was hampering rescue operations. Divers had recovered only 12 bodies since the Thursday evening disaster in the harbour of the lakeside town of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The EU said yesterday it would release 120 million euros ($107 million) in development aid for the Congo, frozen for nine years because the then President Mobutu had put obstacles in the way of the country's transition to democracy.
