UN to set Congo deadline

Kisangani has recently seen heavy fighting

By Jane Hughes in New York

The United Nations has begun a two-day meeting in New York, aimed at bolstering moves towards peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Security Council members and representatives of the countries involved in the conflict are expected to agree to a resolution setting a deadline for the pull-out of Rwandan and Ugandan troops, and demanding the orderly withdrawal of all other forces.

The people of the Congo are looking to us to help find a way out of the hell in which they've been living for so long

Richard Holbrooke

Members of the Security Council warned them that the onus was on them and not the UN to halt the hostilities.

Its almost a year since the Lusaka peace accord was signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo, the rebel factions, and the other countries involved in the conflict there: Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia on the Congolese Government's side, and Rwanda and Uganda on the rebels' side.

Security Council members voiced their dismay at the recent fighting between Uganda and Rwanda in the eastern Congolese town of Kisangani which has left hundreds of people dead.

Stern words

Holbrooke: Troubled by developments

The US ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, called it one of the most troubling things he has ever seen in his diplomatic career.

Mr Holbrooke also had stern words for the Congolese President Laurent Kabila's government, saying its failure to engage in dialogue with the rebel groups was an attack on the Lusaka agreement.

He stressed the UN's commitment to achieving peace.

"The people of the Congo are looking to us to help find a way out of the hell in which they've been living for so long," Mr Holbrooke said.

"They look to us to help them build lives not defined by conflict. This is the best possible reason for us to continue working for implementation of Lusaka agreement and for peace in the DRC."

But the anticipated UN resolution goes no further than hinting at measures to force the parties to comply - raising questions about how effective it can really be.