Congo activity concerns U.N. council

UNITED NATIONS, July 23 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council urges a political solution to the worsening crisis in eastern Congo, now with about 700,000 people displaced.

Only Friday U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed his concern at mounting tensions and the "dire humanitarian crisis" Congo faces.

Ambassador Wang Guangya of China, this month's president of the panel of 15, read out a formal statement expressing its "deep concern at the deteriorating security situation in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular in North and South Kivu."

The council urged key players to "refrain from any action leading to a military confrontation that could result in further tension and aggravate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Kivus, and to seek a solution to the current crisis through political and diplomatic means."

The statement also called on rebel militias and their commanders to integrate into the Congolese armed forces and to stop recruiting activities.

It called on the government in Kinshasa to develop, in coordination with the U.N. Mission in Congo, a plan to ensure security in the eastern part of the vast Central Africa nation, including by promoting disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of Congolese and foreign combatants, as well as reconciliation, recovery and development.

In addition, members of the council expressed the need to extend the state's authority throughout the region and welcomed the intention of Congolese authorities to help with an inclusive dialogue in the Kivus.