THE international community moved into high gear with consultations yesterday over rapid international intervention in eastern Zaire to rescue hundreds of thousands of Hutu refugees.
But Rwanda is throwing cold water on the proposals, especially if they are led by the French. As the war spreads a chorus of voices - from French and Italian cabinet ministers to the European Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Ms Emma Bonino - is calling for some kind of foreign military force to ensure aid reachs about one million Rwandan refugees.
French officials made little secret of their frustration at the slowness of the UN and the EU to put together an emergency programme to protect and supply refugees.
Past criticism of France's political and military role in the region, particularly during Operation Turquoise when Foreign Legionnaires intervened in Rwanda in 1994, has made it impossible for Paris to approve another independent military initiative, whether under UN command or not.
The Humanitarian Aid Minister, Mr Xavier Emmanuelli, said he was extremely worried by the extent of the disaster and had sent out a "cry of alarm and despair to the international community to act quickly."
"As far as France is concerned, everything is ready for an emergency airlift", he added. "Food, tents and medical supplies will leave as soon as I have the assurance that they will arrive at their destination. For the moment, we don't know where to send them. The situation has never been so confused and complex."
The most widely discussed proposal for foreign intervention is a plan for secure corridors to the refugees.
Among those calling for immediate action is Mr Gerard Prunier, an adviser to the government during Operation Turquoise.
Mr Prunier presented a new plan to the French government on Friday. "We may have to forget about the rest of Europe and the UN because it will take too long. .. If there is no decision by Monday it will be too late," he said.
To establish an aid corridor to the refugees, troops would have to take Goma airport from the rebels, to win their co operation, and secure the city and roads west. But even aid workers are sceptical about launching a massive humanitarian mission if it simply re establishes the refugee camps and perpetuates the regional political instability which led to the rebel war and Rwandan intervention.
Many aid workers view the present chaos as an opportunity to resolve the refugee problem by providing short term aid and pressuring the bulk of Rwandan Hutus to return home before they can set up new camps.