UN condemns MLC threat against MONUC

The UN Security Council on Thursday voiced its concern over reports of a government offensive in Equateur Province, called for an immediate end to the fighting and urged all sides to exercise restraint. Recalling the responsibility of all parties for assuring freedom of movement and security for UN and associated personnel, the Security Council also condemned “in the strongest terms” the threat by the rebel Mouvement de liberation du congo (MLC) to target UN aircraft [if they flew into MLC-controlled areas without advance flight clearance], the current president of the Council, Ambassador Patricia Durrant of Jamaica, told the press. Council members were concerned by reports of military movements by the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA) and the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) that threatened the town of Ikela, Durrant said after they concluded closed-door consultations on the DRC. Significant FAC troop movements have been reported around Ikela, with observers suggesting the government forces were attempting to counter an RPA/RCD attempt to cut off the supply line to its forces in the town. The Security Council urged the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and the Joint Military Committee (JMC) established to implement the Lusaka ceasefire agreement to undertake immediate verification missions to Equateur and Ikela, and to report back, Durrant added.