UN warns over DRC fighting
2006-12-07 07:28
New York - The UN security council congratulated Joseph Kabila on Tuesday on his election to the Democratic Republic of Congo presidency but expressed "serious concern" over fighting by a renegade force in the lawless east of the country.
In a formal policy statement read at a public meeting, the council also encouraged the international community to assist the DRC in trying to rebuild its shattered economy and restore stability.
More than 150 rebels were killed when UN peacekeepers
fought off an offensive in east DRC last week, officials in
the country said.
The casualty figure was the highest recorded from fighting
involving UN troops in the central African nation, where the
UN has its largest peacekeeping mission of 17 600.
UN forces used helicopter gunships, heavy weapons and
armoured vehicles in several days of fighting last week against
rebels led by dissident General Laurent Nkunda, who had
dislodged government soldiers near the town of Sake.
"The security council expresses its serious concern at the
recent hostilities launched by non-integrated army units in
Sake, in the North Kivu province," the council's statement
said, stressing the impact of the fighting on women, children
and the elderly.
"It calls on these units to cease their hostilities, return
without delay to their initial positions and submit themselves
to the army integration and demobilisation processes," it
said.
Up to 20 000 civilians were displaced by the clashes, which
highlighted the east's volatility despite the historic polls,
meant to help the country put a 1998-2003 war behind it.
The 15-member body also stressed the need for all political
parties "to act responsibility after the elections within the
framework of democratic institutions and the rule of law".