Security Council condemns renewed fighting in Ituri

The UN Security Council has expressed deep concern about the "serious human rights violations" and the displacement of tens of thousands of people caused by renewed fighting in the Ituri District of northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council said the fighting "clearly violated the letter and spirit" of the all-inclusive agreement on the political transition in the DRC signed on 16 December, and the truce agreement brokered by the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) in Ituri.

It called on all of the Congolese parties to "immediately cease hostilities" and to implement the power-sharing accord by putting in place the transitional arrangements without delay.

"In particular, they also called for the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie-National/Mouvement de liberation du Congo [RCD-N/MLC] to cease further offensives, to meet with the RCD-Kisangani/Mouvement de liberation [RCD-K-ML] leadership in the presence of diplomatic representatives, and for all parties involved in Ituri to cooperate with MONUC," the council said.

Accusations are being traded between the rebel groups and the government regarding which of them initiated this latest offensive. Jean-Pierre Bemba of MLC has categorically denied the involvement of his troops in the fighting.

"I have invited RCD-ML and RCD-N officials to Gbadolite for peace talks aiming at a ceasefire between them,” he told Radio France Internationale on Tuesday. “Our troops are absolutely not involved in the current events in Ituri."

Meanwhile, The Rwandan government had said it was "especially concerned" by the fighting in Ituri, due to its proximity to the Rwandan border, and its involvement of the former Rwandan army (ex-FAR) and Interahmwe, Radio Rwanda reported on Tuesday.

The Security Council also condemned the fighting between RCD-Goma and armed groups in Uvira, South Kivu. It called on all concerned parties to stop giving material support to those engaged in military activities in the northeast and the Kivus.