United Nations Radio

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the government and armed rebels forces to stop fighting in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The Secretary-General says he is following developments in the border areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda with increasing concern.

He warns that the continued fighting between units of the Congolese army and the National Congress for the Defense of the People led by Laurent Nkunda adds to the suffering of the civilian population and risks provoking wider conflict in the region.

UN spokesperson Marie Okabe says the Secretary-General is urging the Congolese warring parties to observe an immediate ceasefire and cooperate with the UN Mission in the country known as MONUC.

"The Secretary-General reiterates that MONUC will act within its mandate to protect civilians threatened by armed groups and to prevent any encroachment on the main population centers and major arterial roads. The Secretary-General calls on all States in the region to prevent their territories and nationals from being used to aid armed groups in the eastern DRC."

The Secretary-General is urging the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda to bridge their differences using diplomatic and other peaceful means available to them.

This is Dianne Penn for United Nations Radio.

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