UN troops in DR of Congo postpone movements into troubled northeast

Rain and poor road conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have postponed the planned movement of United Nations troops out of their base in Bunia into four other areas of Ituri province.

The deployment has been rescheduled for Thursday, according to a UN spokesman in New York.

On 28 July, the UN Security Council passed a resolution directing the UN Organization Mission in the DRC (MONUC) to deploy in the Ituri district, in the northeast, "to help to stabilize the security conditions and improve the humanitarian situation" in the province.

The province has been the scene of recent violence, including the murder of some 65 persons, mostly women and children, on 6 October.

The spokesman, Fred Eckhard, also reported that combatant groups had begun preparing for disarmament and re-integration into civilian life.

"All the armed groups in Bunia are gathering their troops for their future cantonment. Party for the Unity and the Safeguard of the Integrity of Congo held an information meeting yesterday with some of its combatants. The Union of Congolese Patriots is using the UN radio to give information to their troops on where to assemble. All the armed groups are required to give information to the UN Mission on the assembly areas of their respective troops by 19 October," he said.