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UN urges end to DR Congo conflict UN urges end to DR Congo conflict
(about 1 hour later)
The United Nations Security Council has condemned fighting by Congolese rebels, calling on the governments of DR Congo and Rwanda to work to defuse tensions.The United Nations Security Council has condemned fighting by Congolese rebels, calling on the governments of DR Congo and Rwanda to work to defuse tensions.
An emergency session of the council expressed concern over the humanitarian consequences of the fighting.An emergency session of the council expressed concern over the humanitarian consequences of the fighting.
Earlier UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to the fighting, which he said was creating a "humanitarian catastrophe".Earlier UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for an immediate end to the fighting, which he said was creating a "humanitarian catastrophe".
Thousands of people have been fleeing a recent upsurge in fighting in the east.Thousands of people have been fleeing a recent upsurge in fighting in the east.
The rebel leader whose forces are threatening the city of Goma declared a ceasefire. Earlier, the Tutsi rebel leader whose forces are threatening the city of Goma declared a ceasefire and urged others to do the same. name="text"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area name="top">
name="text"> The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at UN headquarters in New York says that officials are hoping the ceasefire holds as losing control of Goma would severely undermine their authority throughout the rest of the country.
In a statement, Mr Ban said the intensifying conflict was "creating a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions and [threatening] dire consequences on a regional scale". Concrete steps
class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area name="top"> The Security Council met late on Wednesday and unanimously adopted a non-binding statement which condemned the fighting and called on the Tutsi rebel group CNDP, led by Laurent Nkunda, to "bring its operations to an end".
He said he was particularly concerned by reports of exchanges of fire across the border with Rwanda and that the "collapse of discipline" among DR Congo troops was "especially worrying". class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7698459.stm">Exodus as terror spreads class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7693828.stm">In pictures: Thousands flee fighting class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3075537.stm">Q&A: DR Congo conflict class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5567&edition=1">Send us your comments
The council also expressed concern at reports of firing across the Congolese border with Rwanda, echoing comments made by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon earlier in the day.
They urged the governments of the DR Congo and neighbouring Rwanda to "take concrete steps to defuse tensions and to restore stability in the region."
In a statement before the summit, Mr Ban said the intensifying conflict was "creating a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions and [threatening] dire consequences on a regional scale".
He said the "collapse of discipline" among DR Congo troops was "especially worrying" and appealed to the Congolese government to "spare no effort establishing control over its forces".
UN officials in Goma have said DR Congo soldiers in the city are nervous and out of control and have been firing into the air.UN officials in Goma have said DR Congo soldiers in the city are nervous and out of control and have been firing into the air.
Mr Ban said he deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians and their use as human shields and appealed to "all those with influence" to restore an effective ceasefire. Mr Ban said he deplored the deliberate targeting of civilians and their use as human shields and said UN peacekeepers were "doing everything possible to protect civilians and fulfil their mandate in untenable circumstances".
Troop supportTroop support
Correspondents say the 17,000-strong UN force in DR Congo - the world's largest - is stretched to breaking point.Correspondents say the 17,000-strong UN force in DR Congo - the world's largest - is stretched to breaking point.
Both Congolese President Joseph Kabila and the head of the UN mission have called for more troops.Both Congolese President Joseph Kabila and the head of the UN mission have called for more troops.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7698459.stm">Exodus as terror spreads class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7693828.stm">In pictures: Thousands flee fighting class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3075537.stm">Q&A: DR Congo conflict class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5567&edition=1">Send us your comments Laurent Nkunda urged the government to declare a ceasefire tooThe UN meeting did not make a decision on the request but said it was considering it.
UK Africa minister Mark Malloch-Brown said the world was mobilising to avoid a repeat of tragedies like the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when the international community looked on as hundreds of thousands were killed. In the meantime, peacekeepers from elsewhere in the country would be redeployed to Goma to back up the 800 troops stationed there.
Before the meeting, UK Africa minister Mark Malloch-Brown said the world was mobilising to avoid a repeat of tragedies like the 1994 Rwandan genocide, when the international community looked on as hundreds of thousands were killed.
"We all have those ghosts in the backs of our minds," he told the BBC. "We need to stop this before it escalates to anything like that level.""We all have those ghosts in the backs of our minds," he told the BBC. "We need to stop this before it escalates to anything like that level."
France, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said it supported sending forces to the area. France, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, has said that it supported sending forces to the area.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that up to 1,500 men could be deployed "in Europe's name within eight to 10 days". Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that up to 1,500 men could be deployed "in Europe's name within eight to 10 days".
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would work with the UN and the EU to ensure the international forces in DR Congo were "properly supported". European governments will meet on Monday to discuss the possible deployment of peacekeeping troops.
PanicPanic
Earlier, rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda told the BBC he was declaring a ceasefire in Goma and urged government troops to do the same. Earlier on Wednesday, rebel leader General Laurent Nkunda told the BBC he was declaring a ceasefire in Goma and urged government troops to do the same.
Laurent Nkunda urged the government to declare a ceasefire tooGen Nkunda said: "We are not far from Goma but because there is a state of destabilisation in the town we decided in our movement to cease fire and unilaterally to proclaim a ceasefire." Advertisement
Footage of DR Congo government troops, displaced people and UN peacekeepers
He added that the goal of his forces was to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide.He added that the goal of his forces was to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide.
A BBC correspondent in the city says there was a "stampede" as thousands of displaced people poured into Goma on the third day of fierce fighting in the area.A BBC correspondent in the city says there was a "stampede" as thousands of displaced people poured into Goma on the third day of fierce fighting in the area.
Congolese soldiers withdrawing from the village of Kibumba, 30km (20 miles) to the north, also retreated to the city, creating a sense of panic among the population, our correspondent added.Congolese soldiers withdrawing from the village of Kibumba, 30km (20 miles) to the north, also retreated to the city, creating a sense of panic among the population, our correspondent added.
Earlier in Kibumba, our reporter saw an exchange of fire across the Rwandan border. Rwanda denies claims it is backing the rebels.Earlier in Kibumba, our reporter saw an exchange of fire across the Rwandan border. Rwanda denies claims it is backing the rebels.
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Footage of DR Congo government troops, displaced people and UN peacekeepers
On Tuesday night, supporters of Gen Nkunda took the town of Rutshuru, near the Ugandan border.
Neighbouring Rwanda has been accused of backing the general, who left the army and launched his own rebellion after DR Congo's five-year conflict officially ended in 2003.
On Tuesday evening, Mr Kabila sent two envoys to Rwanda to discuss the crisis.
The Congolese deputy prime minister in charge of reconstruction, Emile Bongeli, told Congolese TV that the UN was turning a blind eye to the role Rwanda was playing in the conflict.
But the Rwandan government denies it has anything to do with the conflict.
"They have been accusing us but wrongly," Joseph Mutaboba, the Rwandan president's special envoy to the Great Lakes, told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
A peace deal was signed in Goma between the government and various rebel groups at the end of January.A peace deal was signed in Goma between the government and various rebel groups at the end of January.
Although he signed the deal, Gen Nkunda has refused to disarm while Rwandan Hutu rebels still operate in the area.Although he signed the deal, Gen Nkunda has refused to disarm while Rwandan Hutu rebels still operate in the area.
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