United Nations Radio

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has again emphasized that there can be no military solution to the crisis in eastern Congo.

He told reporters Monday he has spoken with dozens of leaders while United Nations officials have spent a great deal of time on the telephone discussing the situation in DRC.

According to the Secretary-General, he has also held repeated conversations with Presidents Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kagame of Rwanda.

"Though they have not yet sat down face to face, Presidents Kagame and Kabila have begun a direct dialogue along with their high-level technical teams. This is a promising development. I urge again all parties to stick to the current ceasefire and devote their best efforts to this nascent political process. President Kagame and Kabila have also expressed their willingness to meet with me possible this week or early next week."

Secretary-General Ban says in an effort to ensure a sustained UN engagement, he intends to nominate former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasango as his special envoy.

This is Donn Bobb reporting for United Nations Radio.

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