Senior UN officials have called for an end to the unrest.
UN peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix expressed deep concern over the escalation of violence in eastern Congo while addressing a Security Council meeting.
He said, the future of millions of ordinary people is hanging in the balance.
Three UN peacekeepers, including two from South Africa and one from Uruguay, were also killed in the fighting in the eastern part of the country. A few peacekeepers were also injured.
MONUSCO, the United Nations mission in the country, is ready to carry out its duties even in such situations.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix said steps had been taken to support Congolese government forces (FARDC).
The Security Council, for its part, should ask the militant group M23 and other groups to take responsibility for complying with international law.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix said that MONUSCO has done a commendable job in carrying out its mandate to provide security to the country’s civilians.
Addressing the ambassadors, he said that the Security Council should also take measures without delay to stop the violence.
…to be continued…