Security Council extends United Nations mission in Democratic Republic of Congo until 30 September 2006 , unanimously adopting Resolution 1635 (2005); Increases troop strength for additional security during elections, calls for scrupulous respect for timetable developed by Electoral Commission.

Publication: M2 Presswire

Bookmark this article Print this article Link to this article Email this article Digg It! Add to del.icio.us RSS

COPYRIGHT 2005 Ingram Investment Ltd.

M2 PRESSWIRE-31 October 2005-UN: Security Council extends United Nations mission in Democratic Republic of Congo until 30 September 2006 , unanimously adopting Resolution 1635 (2005); Increases troop strength for additional security during elections, calls for scrupulous respect for timetable developed by Electoral Commission(C)1994-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

RDATE:28102005

Concerned about continuing hostilities by militias and foreign armed groups in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the threat they posed to the holding of elections in the country, the Security Council this morning extended the UN Mission there until 30 September 2006, and authorized an increase of 300 personnel in its military strength.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1635 (2005) and acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Council -- having noted the Secretary-General's recommendation in his most recent report for an additional brigade of 2,580 personnel -- authorized the increase to allow for the deployment of an infantry battalion in Katanga, with its own air mobility and appropriate medical support, to provide additional security within its area of operations during the election period.

Underlining the temporary character of the increase, the Council requested the Secretary-General to take the necessary steps with a view to downsizing or repatriating the additional strength from 1 July 2006 at the latest, and to report to the Council before 1 June 2006 on the assessment to be made for that purpose.

By other terms of the text, the Council called on the transitional institutions and on all Congolese parties to ensure that free, fair and peaceful elections take place, and to scrupulously respect the timetable for polls developed by the Independent Electoral Commission, underlining in that regard the responsibility of the Congolese authorities to adopt necessary legislation without further delay.

The Council also called on the Government...

Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.