UN urged to protect civilians in DR Congo’s North Kivu

London, 12 Jul – (ANA) - The UN Security Council must call on the Rwandan government to stop providing support for  the M23 armed group in DR Congo’s North Kivu province, Amnesty International said as the UN redeployed peacekeepers to the main eastern city of Goma. The M23 have driven back the Congolese government army in a determined offensive over the last few days. The UN and authorities in eastern DR Congo say Rwanda has backed  the non-state armed group, M23,, a claim denied by Kigali. “While redeploying UN troops to Goma to protect civilians is a positive step, the situation in the North Kivu is so tense that it has the potential to turn into a regional conflict if the international community does not take urgent measures,” said Aster van Kregten, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Africa. (ANA)

FA/ANA/12 July 2012-----------