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afrol.com, 23 August - The Security Council this afternoon decided to extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) until 15 October. By a unanimous vote, the Council adopted a resolution, by whose terms it emphasized that the technical extension of the Mission was designed to allow time for further diplomatic activities in support of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement, and for Council reflection on MONUC's future mandate and possible adjustments to it. Calling on the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and other parties to lift all obstacles to full MONUC deployment and operations, the Council asked the Secretary-General to report to it by 21 September on progress in the implementation of both its relevant resolutions and the Ceasefire Agreement. A report presented by the UN Secretary-General says that the situation in Congo Kinshasa is characterized by persistent large-scale fighting in many parts of the country, severe restrictions on MONUC's freedom of movement and the refusal of the Government to permit the deployment of United Nations armed troops. He also draws the Council’s attention to the sustained campaign of vilification conducted against the Mission and its staff, which has created significant risks to their security. According to the Secretary-General, the Lusaka peace process is currently undergoing an extremely challenging phase, which requires substantial reevaluation. The role MONUC can play in the peace process also remains unclear under current circumstances. In light of the present situation, and in order to allow time to assess the latest developments and formulate his recommendations accordingly, the Secretary-General asks the Council to consider an interim extension of the Mission's mandate for one month, until 30 September. Source: United Nations
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