The Commonwealth urged the United Nations on November 15 to speedily deploy a peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in accordance with the Lusaka ceasefire agreement.

The Commonwealth summit said in a communique, issued at its conclusion, that the leaders attending the summit welcomed the signing of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement in July and August this year by six African countries involved in the year-long DRC war.

The Commonwealth appealed to the international community to support the Organization of African Unity and the Joint Military Commission to enable them to carry out their mandate without further delay.

It also urged the DRC fighting parties to adhere to the letter and spirit of the Lusaka ceasefire agreement.

Some 47 heads of government at the summit discussed a wide range of issues, from the future role of the 54-member Commonwealth to Angola civil war, debt and AIDS, during their four-day meeting.