Brown vows to back Congo peacekeepers
|
Gordon Brown has pledged to ensure UN peacekeepers in Congo are properly supported.
Congo is on the brink of a humanitarian emergency with rebel forces in the east of the country threatening to overwhelm UN and government peacekeeping troops.
Tens of thousands of people fled their homes to the provincial capital Goma after a three-day offensive by the rebels loyal to a former army general.
Downing Street said the Prime Minister wanted to see a 'full' ceasefire in the east of the African country where rebel troops have surrounded provincial capital Goma.
'The Prime Minister is monitoring closely the situation in the Eastern DRC, and is gravely concerned at the humanitarian implications,' Number 10 said in a statement.
'A full ceasefire must be put in place, and the leaders of the region should use all their influence to end the fighting and allow full humanitarian access.
'The UK will work urgently with EU and UN partners, including at tonight's emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, to ensure the UN peacekeeping force - the largest in the world - is properly supported.'
The UK will also call on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to send a special envoy to the region and support urgent talks between Rwandan President Kagame and Congo President Kabila, it said.
Chief of the UN peacekeeping force MONUC, Alan Doss, said his force was 'stretched to the limit'.
He added: 'I obviously hope we can get some additional support as quickly as possible, so that we can move this process back on the right track.'
The UN Security Council expressed 'grave concern' and called for an immediate ceasefire by all parties.
Around 250,000 civilians have fled their homes in North Kivu since a January peace deal collapsed in August. Nearly 850,000 had been displaced in the previous two years, the United Nations says.
Congo's 1998-2003 war and the resulting humanitarian crisis have killed an estimated 5.4 million people.
The UN Security Council is meeting in emergency session tonight to discuss the crisis.
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
