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FIRST UN OBSERVERS IN DRC THE first UN military observers sent to supervise a ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) took up their functions Thursday, Interior Minister Gaetan Kakudji announced. Under the command of Colonel James Ellery, of Britain, who is based in Kinshasa, the UN mission's first task will be to deploy representatives in the capitals of the five other countries involved in the DRC war. In all between 100 and 400 liaison officers will be based in the DRC, Angola, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Rwanda, the United Nations announced earlier. Under the Lusaka ceasefire agreement, UN observers are to ensure that all sides remain in the positions they held when the ceasefire came into effect. The Lusaka agreement calls for the deployment of an international peace force in the DRC under the United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity. According to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, the force should number between 15 000 and 20 000 men. |
