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UN appeals for DR Congo back-up UN appeals for DR Congo back-up
(about 6 hours later)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has made a fresh plea for 3,000 more peacekeepers to be sent to the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The head of UN peacekeeping has asked the UN Security Council for more than 3,000 extra troops to protect civilians in the eastern DR Congo.
In New York, Mr Ban also called for a ceasefire so aid workers could urgently help "at least 100,000 refugees" cut off in rebel-held areas near Goma. Alain Le Roy said current peacekeeper numbers were not enough to protect civilians from violence perpetrated by rebel groups and the Congolese army.
A 17,000-strong UN force in Congo has been unable to stop the fighting or halt the rebel advance. There are 9,000 UN peacekeepers in the region, out of 17,000 nationwide.
The UN Security Council is considering the call for reinforcements. The latest crisis began in August when rebels advanced towards Goma, which is now ringed with refugee camps.
class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a ceasefire to allow aid workers to reach 100,000 refugees cut off in rebel-held areas north of Goma.
The UN head of UN peacekeeping operations, Alain Le Roy, said there were currently only 10 UN soldiers for every 10,000 inhabitants in eastern DR Congo.
See detailed map of the area
Rebel administrationRebel administration
He said this was not enough to protect the population from violence perpetrated by rebel groups and the Congolese army. The UN's peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, called Monuc, is its largest in the world, but Mr Le Roy said there were only 10 UN soldiers for every 10,000 inhabitants in eastern DR Congo.
The UN presence in DR Congo is its largest mission in the worldRecent fighting between government and rebel troops has displaced a quarter of a million people in the strife-torn region around Goma, the capital of North Kivu province. "We consider it's not enough," he said.
Earlier, the rebel Congolese general, Laurent Nkunda, said he had formed an alternative administration in the area of eastern Congo that he controls. Recent fighting between government and rebel troops has displaced 250,000 people in the strife-torn region around Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.
FORCES AROUND GOMA CNDP: Gen Nkunda's Tutsi rebels - 6,000 fightersFDLR: Rwandan Hutus - 6,000-7,000Mai Mai: pro-government militia - 3,500Monuc: UN peacekeepers - 5,500 in North Kivu, 3,500 in South Kivu (17,000 nationwide)DRC army - 90,000 (nationwide) Source: UN, military experts
Earlier, the rebel Congolese leader, General Laurent Nkunda, said he had formed an alternative administration in the area of eastern Congo that he controls.
In what observers say is his latest direct challenge to the central government, 12 ministers will take responsibility for a range of functions including police and security.In what observers say is his latest direct challenge to the central government, 12 ministers will take responsibility for a range of functions including police and security.
But the BBC's Mark Doyle in eastern DR Congo says the move appears to be pure propaganda.But the BBC's Mark Doyle in eastern DR Congo says the move appears to be pure propaganda.
'Looting and raping'
Our correspondent says it may annoy the government but is likely to be insignificant unless the rebels follow it up with further military action.Our correspondent says it may annoy the government but is likely to be insignificant unless the rebels follow it up with further military action.
'Looting and raping'
Meanwhile, government troops have faced fresh accusations that they have been ransacking villages and raping civilians.
UN spokesman Lt-Col Jean Paul Dietrich said looting began around Kanyabayonga, 100km (60 miles) north of Goma, on Monday afternoon and continued through the night.
In pictures: DR Congo unrestFace-to-face with NkundaSend us your commentsIn pictures: DR Congo unrestFace-to-face with NkundaSend us your comments
Meanwhile government troops have faced fresh accusations that they have been ransacking villages and raping civilians. He also said that a rare night-time gunbattle had erupted for an hour on Tuesday night between rebels and the army near Kibati, 10km (six miles) north of Goma.
UN spokesman Lt-Col Jean Paul Dietrich said looting began around Kanyabayonga, 100 km (60 miles) north of Goma, on Monday afternoon and continued through the night. The area is home to 75,000 people who have been repeatedly forced to flee fighting.
He said UN peacekeepers and the Congolese army had been trying to intervene. Meanwhile, neighbouring Angola said it was mobilising troops to send to Congo, the Associated Press news agency reported, although it was not clear how many or what their mission would be.
AP reporters in DR Congo have reported seeing Portuguese-speaking black soldiers wearing green berets with pins in the shape of a map of Angola, but the UN has said it had no independent confirmation for the presence of Angolan troops.
The presence of Angolans in the volatile region could be seen as a provocation by neighbouring Rwanda, raising fears that the fighting could spread.
No negotiations
Rebel leader Gen Nkunda claims to be fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to DR Congo after Rwanda's 1994 genocide.Rebel leader Gen Nkunda claims to be fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attacks by Rwandan Hutu rebels, who fled to DR Congo after Rwanda's 1994 genocide.
On Monday, he threatened to take over the whole country if President Joseph Kabila's government continued in its refusal to negotiate with him. The Congolese government has often promised to stop the Hutu forces from using its territory, but has not done so.
FORCES AROUND GOMA CNDP: Gen Nkunda's Tutsi rebels - 6,000 fightersFDLR: Rwandan Hutus - 6,000-7,000Mai Mai: pro-government militia - 3,500Monuc: UN peacekeepers - 1,000 in Goma, 6,000 in North Kivu (17,000 nationwide)DRC army - 90,000 (nationwide) Source: UN, military experts But a Congolese official said the government was still unwilling to talk to the rebel leader and accused him of war crimes. On Monday, Gen Nkunda threatened to take over the whole country if President Joseph Kabila's government continued in its refusal to negotiate with him. But a Congolese official said the government was still unwilling to talk to the rebel leader and accused him of war crimes.
The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest violence.The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest violence.
Mr Kabila was elected president in 2006 in polls that were backed by the UN, and which international observers generally declared to be fair.Mr Kabila was elected president in 2006 in polls that were backed by the UN, and which international observers generally declared to be fair.
As in the four-year war that began in DR Congo in 1998, the recent fighting has threatened to draw in neighbouring countries.
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What is your reaction to the situation in Congo? Can this region ever find peace? Tell us your thoughts by filling in the form below.What is your reaction to the situation in Congo? Can this region ever find peace? Tell us your thoughts by filling in the form below.
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