The UN Security Council on Thursday authorized the deployment of 3,000 new military and police personnel to help end the fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DPA reported. The council said the new troops could be deployed immediately until December 31 and the duration of their stay would depend on the security situation in the Kivu areas in eastern Congo. The additional troops were requested by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to man a separation zone between the warring parties in eastern Congo, where fighting has disrupted entire areas and displaced tens of thousands of Congolese. The UN mission in Congo (MONUC) comprises more than 17,000 military troops, but they are stretched thin in the vast Congolese territory. The council said MONUC can reconfigure its deployment with the aim of protecting the civilian population. Alan Doss, the UN special envoy for Congo, said Tuesday that MONUC will be redeployed with the new additional forces to North Kivu, the site of recent fighting. He had urged the council to authorize the additional troops.
