UNITED NATIONS, March 4 (UPI) -- The Security Council, concerned about renewed fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, called Monday for an end to hostilities and for warring factions to respect their commitments to the cease-fire agreement.
The eruption in fighting coincides with formal resumption of the inter-Congolese dialogue in Sun City, South Africa. The 15-member council asked participants in that conclave to participate constructively.
Council members welcomed the commitment of the DRC government to undertake a unilateral cease-fire, called for its immediate implementation and appealed to the other parties "to act in the same manner."
The 15-member panel welcomed a decision by the U.N. mission in the DRC, known as MONUC, to monitor the cease-fire and the withdrawal of all parties to their original positions.
The U.N. Development Fund for Women has called for greater participation by women in the Sun City inter-Congolese dialogue.
"Without women's full participation in the dialogue, peace will neither be inclusive nor sustainable," said UNIFEM's Executive Director Noeleen Heyzer in a statement issued over the weekend. She said UNIFEM's supports the call for more women participating, made by the facilitator of the dialogue, former Botswana President Ketumile Masire.
