Security Council “deeply concerned”

The Security Council on Thursday also said it was “deeply concerned” by reports that not all forces and armed groups had left the northeastern city of Kisangani. In a statement, Council members reiterated their demand that the Congolese armed opposition and other armed groups “immediately and completely” pull out from the city. They called on parties to the Lusaka ceasefire agreement to respect the area’s demilitarisation. Council members also deplored the humanitarian effects of the recent fighting in Kisangani, which they said had killed 600 civilians and injured 3,000 people. They called on all parties to facilitate the delivery of relief aid by UN agencies and the UN mission in the DRC (MONUC). Earlier in the day, MONUC military observers in Kisangani had reported that Rwandan and Ugandan soldiers were seen leaving town, but that it was difficult to confirm their complete withdrawal due to the terrain, which consisted largely of dense jungle, a UN spokesman said in New York. One Congolese armed faction reportedly remained in Kisangani, he said, while reports had been received about restrictions on MONUC observers in Mbandaka. He added that the overall situation in the town remained tense, but was “improving”. Meanwhile, having been briefed on the situation in Equateur province, the Council called on parties to cease hostilities throughout the DRC, cooperate with MONUC and implement all provisions of the Lusaka Agreement and the relevant Security Council resolutions.