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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. |
| Earlier, the Tutsi rebel leader whose forces are threatening the city of Goma declared a ceasefire and urged others to do the same. See detailed map of the area | Earlier, the Tutsi rebel leader whose forces are threatening the city of Goma declared a ceasefire and urged others to do the same. See detailed map of the area |
| 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. | 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. |
| Concrete steps | Concrete steps |
| 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". | 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". |
| Exodus as terror spreadsIn pictures: Thousands flee fightingQ&A: DR Congo conflictSend us your comments | Exodus as terror spreadsIn pictures: Thousands flee fightingQ&A: DR Congo conflictSend 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. | 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." | 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". | 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". | 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 said UN peacekeepers were "doing everything possible to protect civilians and fulfil their mandate in untenable circumstances". | 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 support | Troop 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| In the meantime, peacekeepers from elsewhere in the country would be redeployed to Goma to back up the 800 troops stationed there. | 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. | 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, has said that 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. |
| 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". |
| European governments will meet on Monday to discuss the possible deployment of peacekeeping troops. | European governments will meet on Monday to discuss the possible deployment of peacekeeping troops. |
| Panic | Panic |
| 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. | 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. |
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| Thousands of displaced people have been fleeing Goma | |
| 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. |
| 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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| Are you in Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
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