United Nations - The UN Security Council yesterday authorised a 5,500-strong UN force to monitor a shaky ceasefire in a many-sided conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, often called Africa's first world war.
The vote in the 15-nation council on a US resolution vastly increasing the mission from its current strength of only 90 liaison officers was unanimous. The expanded force will comprise up to 500 military observers and up to 5,000 troops to protect them and provide logistics. But its phased deployment will begin only when the Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, is satisfied it will have adequate security and the co-operation of the warring parties.