U.N. pushes for Congo peace

KINSHASA, Congo -- A U.N. Security Council mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo is confident it has edged closer to securing peace in the country.

The 12-member mission, in Congo as part of a tour of eight African nations, was attempting to seek an end to the country's three-year long civil war.

"This was a very positive and successful mission," said a U.N. official. "It has no doubt brought the Congo…..much closer to peace than at any time."

Jean-David Levitte, the French ambassador and head of the U.N. delegation, said that the mission was the last credible chance to secure a viable peace in the region.

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Strife in the Congo

"Our impression is that there is a window of opportunity to move forward with this process," he said.

Congo President Joseph Kabila, however, expressed disappointment with the U.N.'s efforts.

Although the U.N. currently has a force of 1,300 peacekeepers deployed in the region, Kabila said he wanted them to send at least 20,000 peacekeepers.

"The commitment is lacking in terms of personnel and resources," he said. "We should look at what happened elsewhere, in places like Kosovo.

"We certainly need nothing less than 20,000 peacekeepers, but I will leave it to the U.N. in New York to work out what they think is a realistic figure."

The civil war in Congo, a country the size of western Europe, began in 1998 and has so far cost an estimated 2.5 million lives, as well as driving 250,000 from their homes.

It has drawn in several neighbouring states, with troops from Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe propping up the government, while Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda support the rebel armies based in the east and north of the country.

A ceasefire accord was agreed in the Zambian capital Lusaka in 1999.

Under the accord all foreign troops were to leave Congo within 180 days. A final date for their withdrawal is due to be set later this week.

Kabila has complained that the U.N. is not doing enough to force the withdrawal of foreign soldiers supporting the rebels.

He also accused Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda of committing genocide against his people, and urged the international community to impose sanctions against them.

"We talk of a genocide, and we will continue to talk of a genocide," he said. "How else can you classify the deaths of 2.5 million people."

He called for a regional conference to help resolve ethnic tensions in countries across central Africa.

"There are tensions in Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda," he said, "And not just in Congo."

The 12-member U.N. mission left Congo on Monday and is due in Zambia for talks with President Frederick Chiluba, the chief Congo conflict mediator.

It is also due to visit Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda before leaving Africa on May 25.

Reuters contributed to this report.