United Nations Radio

The UN Security Council on Thursday voted to send 3,000 additional peacekeeping troops to the Democratic Republic of the Congo-DRC.

In a unanimous resolution, the council decided to authorize a temporary increase of the UN peacekeeping mission in Congo - MONUC's military strength by up to 2,785 military personnel, and the strength of its formed police unit by up to 300 personnel.

The council authorized the immediate deployment of the troops until 31 December 2008 and expressed its intention to extend this authorization when the mission's mandate comes up for renewal.

The representative of South Africa Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo welcomed the council's action.

"We too feel that the situation in the eastern Congo, particularly around the city of Goma is deteriorating very fast. The humanitarian situation is becoming dire all the time. And while we are pleased with the increase in number of peacekeepers that will be sent to this art of the country, we wish to underline that this goes along with the political process."

The council stressed that this temporary increase aims at enabling MONUC to reinforce its capacity to protect civilians and to optimize their deployment.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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