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UN boss starts Africa tour in DRC UN chief urges DRC democracy pact
(about 7 hours later)
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on his first official foreign trip since taking office. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for a "good governance pact" in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
His visit to the DRC, which has the largest deployment of UN soldiers anywhere in the world, marks the start of a five-day tour of Africa. "I would like to invite you to work out a pact with yourselves and the people you represent as well as with all your international partners," Mr Ban said.
He will also join an African Union summit in Ethiopia - the key business part of his trip - and visit Kenya. He was addressing members of the DRC parliament at the start of a five-day tour of Africa - his first official foreign trip since taking office.
Mr Ban has promised to keep Africa high on his agenda as UN chief. The DRC has the largest deployment of UN soldiers anywhere in the world.
Peacekeepers Mr Ban will also join an African Union summit in Ethiopia - the key business part of his trip - and visit Kenya.
The secretary general begins his tour in a country still emerging from a bloody civil war. He has promised to keep Africa high on his agenda as UN chief.
He is due to address the country's national assembly on Saturday, where he is expected to praise last year's successful elections, but warn that the task of rebuilding the shattered nation is enormous. 'Real opposition' needed
The secretary general began his tour in a country still emerging from a bloody civil war.
To loud applause, Mr Ban told the Congolese national assembly the country's elections in 2006 were a real source of hope for Africa - but the task of rebuilding was enormous.
UN PEACEKEEPERS IN AFRICA DR Congo: 17,000Liberia: 15,500Eritrea/Ethiopia: 2,300Sudan: 10,000 in the south, proposal for 20,000 in Darfur, rejected by Sudan govtIvory Coast: 9,000Western Sahara: 200Somalia: Proposal for UN to take control of 9,000 African Union troopsUN PEACEKEEPERS IN AFRICA DR Congo: 17,000Liberia: 15,500Eritrea/Ethiopia: 2,300Sudan: 10,000 in the south, proposal for 20,000 in Darfur, rejected by Sudan govtIvory Coast: 9,000Western Sahara: 200Somalia: Proposal for UN to take control of 9,000 African Union troops
The BBC's United Nations correspondent, Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban, says the situation there is still very unstable. He said there could be no democracy without justice.
Mr Ban told her he wanted to send a message to the international community that DRC was still in need of help. "To be a healthy and thriving democracy [it] needs a real political opposition in which everyone can express himself freely and without fear of being intimidated," Mr Ban told lawmakers.
"It is crucially important to help [the people of DRC] solidify their democratic path," he said. Calling on the Congolese politicians to co-operate, he said: "This would be a kind of good governance pact, because restoring the state's authority and ensuring the primacy of the rule of law across the country are indispensable for consolidating peace and democracy."
"At the same time, I'm going to engage in dialogue not only with President [Joseph] Kabila of DRC, but also with members of the opposition urging them to go into dialogue." The UN secretary general spoke of the need to re-establish security and urged the creation of "a professional, well-paid and well-equipped army and police as a priority" - and promised continued UN support.
The UN's theory is that if this vast country can make the transition from war-torn nation to fledgling democracy, it will be a stable influence on the rest of troubled sub-Saharan Africa, says our correspondent. Mr Ban will meet the key opposition leader, Jean-Pierre Bemba and President Joseph Kabila on Sunday.
The UN's theory is that if this vast country can make the transition from war-torn nation to fledgling democracy, it will be a stable influence on the rest of troubled sub-Saharan Africa, says the BBC's UN correspondent, Laura Trevelyan, who is travelling with Mr Ban.
About 17,000 United Nations peacekeepers operate in the country, overseeing the peace process after the end of a bloody five-year war in 2002.About 17,000 United Nations peacekeepers operate in the country, overseeing the peace process after the end of a bloody five-year war in 2002.
Mr Ban said it would be "premature at this time to talk about withdrawal or reduction of the forces", adding that their future there depended on "how the situation develops".
'Deep concern''Deep concern'
Mr Ban is also due to meet President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan at the AU summit, which opens in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.Mr Ban is also due to meet President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan at the AU summit, which opens in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday.
Our correspondent says in theory the Sudanese leader has accepted the idea of a joint AU-UN peacekeeping force in the troubled region of Darfur, but it has not happened yet.Our correspondent says in theory the Sudanese leader has accepted the idea of a joint AU-UN peacekeeping force in the troubled region of Darfur, but it has not happened yet.
The UN chief said the situation in Darfur was "on the top" of his agenda.The UN chief said the situation in Darfur was "on the top" of his agenda.
"I... am deeply concerned about the continuing violence and the suffering of the civilians there. This time we need action and to make real progress," he said."I... am deeply concerned about the continuing violence and the suffering of the civilians there. This time we need action and to make real progress," he said.
He said he would urge President Bashir "to make a clear commitment" to accept the deployment of an UN-AU peacekeeping force in the war-torn region.He said he would urge President Bashir "to make a clear commitment" to accept the deployment of an UN-AU peacekeeping force in the war-torn region.
Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people there and more than two million people have been displaced.Nearly four years of fighting in Darfur has killed some 200,000 people there and more than two million people have been displaced.