KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo -- Fears of another African war escalated Wednesday as U.N. observers reported seeing 100 Rwandan soldiers inside the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"We are on a war footing," said Mbusa Nyamwisi, a Congolese cabinet minister.

He claimed two brigades of Rwandan troops had already invaded and accused them of destroying at least three villages, leaving 15 dead. But the United Nations, which has a peacekeeping mission in Congo, has not confirmed the accusation.

The U.S. State Department also said it could not confirm the report, adding it was working toward getting all parties to resolve the conflict diplomatically. As part of a previously planned visit, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Don Yamomoto travels to Rwanda, Congo and Eritrea Thursday for talks on regional issues.

Rwanda has twice invaded its giant neighbor, sparking wars in 1996 and 1998. Each time, it said its objective was to destroy the Hutu rebel groups responsible for the genocide of the minority Tutsis 10 years ago. But a U.N. investigation accused the Rwandan army of looting Congo's mineral wealth.

Rwanda withdrew in 2002 under a regional agreement to end five years of war during which some 3 million people died.

Copyright 2004 by United Press International