UNITED NATIONS, May 30 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council expressed concern that security challenges in the Central African Republic were spiraling out of control.
The Security Council adopted a statement expressing concern about the resurgence of attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army. The United Nations said a focus on dealing with a rebellion launched by the anti-government Seleka coalition in CAR was leaving other challenges neglected.
The statement said countries in the region have the "primary responsibility" to protect civilians from conflict.
"In this regard, the council welcomes the efforts undertaken by the CAR, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of South Sudan and Uganda to end the threat posed by the LRA, and urges further efforts from these countries, as well as from other countries in the region," the Security Council said.
U.S. President Barack Obama in late 2011 deployed 100 military advisers to the CAR to help military forces take on the LRA.
LRA leader Joseph Kony is the target of a 2005 arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court. His militant group is suspected of conscripting child soldiers and using girls as sex slaves.
Seleka toppled the government in CAR in March, forcing President Francois Bozize to flee to neighboring Cameroon. The rebel group is accused of committing crimes against humanity despite agreeing to a peace accord in January.
