Security Council set to vote on military liaison group

The UN Security Council on Friday announced it was prepared to vote shortly on the deployment of up to 90 military personnel who would liaise with the signatories of the ceasefire agreement reached at Lusaka and the Joint Military Commission (JMC) tasked with overseeing the ceasefire. In a press statement, Council members said they had finalised consultations on a draft resolution authorising the deployment of the military liaison personnel, "who would also begin planning for a UN role in the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, once it is signed by all parties". The Council again urged Congolese rebels "to take the first step in the process of peace and national reconciliation by signing the agreement without further delay". The three rebel groups, meeting in Tanzania in an attempt to resolve differences as to who should sign the deal, were on Monday still far from agreement despite four days of intense diplomatic efforts, news agencies reported. The talks were said to be continuing. Meanwhile, the Algerian general whom the OAU appointed to head the JMC has taken up his post in Lusaka. General Lalli Rachid said on arrival that he hoped to move quickly to have the ceasefire implemented, the BBC reported on Monday.