Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, January 16, 2004
UN allows govt troops to deploy in key DRC town
The United Nations Security Council agreed on Thursday to allow the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government troops to deploy in Kisangani, a strategic town in the east part of the war-torn country.
The United Nations Security Council agreed on Thursday to allow the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government troops to deploy in Kisangani, a strategic town in the east part of the war-torn country.
In a unanimously adopted resolution, the council withdrew its demand for the complete demilitarization of Kisangani, which was contained in a previous resolution.
Since the DRC government of national unity and transition has been in place, the demand for demilitarizing Kisangani shall not apply to the restructured forces of the new government, the new resolution says.
It welcomes the setting up of the first integrated and unified brigade in Kisangani as a step toward the formation of a Congolese integrated national army.
In 2000, the council demanded that forces from Uganda, Rwanda, the Congolese armed opposition and other armed groups immediately and completely withdraw from Kisangani.
Kisangani, a town on the Congo River, was the scene of major battles in the country's latest civil war, which started in 1998.