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UN discussing DR Congo withdrawal UN discussing DR Congo withdrawal
(40 minutes later)
The UN has said it is has begun discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo government on withdrawing peacekeeping troops. The UN has said it is has begun discussions with the Democratic Republic of Congo government on withdrawing its peacekeeping troops.
The UN's mission in the country, Monuc, has the largest number of peacekeepers of any UN operation worldwide. The UN's mission in the country, Monuc, has the largest number of peacekeepers of any UN operation worldwide - 20,500.
Its current mandate is due to expire at the end of May and the new one will include an exit strategy.Its current mandate is due to expire at the end of May and the new one will include an exit strategy.
The announcement was made by UN Under Secretary-General Alain le Roy after a meeting with President Joseph Kabila. The UN troops have a mixed record in DR Congo, amid accusations of sex abuse, smuggling gold and running from rebels.
The BBC's correspondent Thomas Fessy, in Kinshasa, says no details have been given yet on the timeline but the Congolese authorities have asked for the withdrawal to be carried out in one year. The peacekeepers were first sent troops to the country in 1999 in a bid to calm a raging conflict dubbed "Africa's first world war".
Mr Le Roy said that a UN team had been given one month to assess how the peacekeeping mission in DR Congo could start withdrawing its troops from the country ahead of a UN Security Council discussion of Monuc's next mandate, due in June. It drew in at least six other countries and left an estimated four million people dead.
The head of all UN peacekeeping missions made the announcement after he met the Congolese President Joseph Kabila. The fighting officially ended in 2003 but parts of the east remain extremely volatile.
According to government spokesman Lambert Mende there should be no UN troops in DR Congo other than in the troubled eastern regions of North and South Kivu by the end of this year. Election link?
The discussions were announced by UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy after a meeting with Congolese President Joseph Kabila.
UN IN DR CONGO First sent in 1999Currently 20,509-strong - world's biggest peace forceHas been criticised for not standing up to rebelsLast year accused of human rights abusesPeacekeepers previously accused of gold smuggling and sex abuse UN-DR Congo rebel fight 'failing' Q&A: DR Congo conflict
The BBC's Thomas Fessy in Kinshasa says no details have been given yet on the timeline but the Congolese authorities have asked for the withdrawal to be carried out in one year.
Mr Le Roy said a UN team had been given one month to assess how the mission could start withdrawing.
The UN Security Council is due to debate Monuc's next mandate in June.
Government spokesman Lambert Mende told the BBC that there should be no UN troops in DR Congo other than in the troubled eastern regions of North and South Kivu by the end of this year.
"Withdrawal must be completed by mid-2011," he said, stressing that this exit strategy will be discussed but not negotiated."Withdrawal must be completed by mid-2011," he said, stressing that this exit strategy will be discussed but not negotiated.
Despite ongoing military operations in different parts of the country, the Congolese authorities want the timeline of the withdrawal to be clearly announced before 30 June, when the country celebrates 50 years of independence.Despite ongoing military operations in different parts of the country, the Congolese authorities want the timeline of the withdrawal to be clearly announced before 30 June, when the country celebrates 50 years of independence.
Our correspondent says that with presidential elections due to be held in late 2011, it is clear that Mr Kabila does not want to deal with the UN peacekeeping mission. Our correspondent says that with a presidential election due in late 2011, it is clear that Mr Kabila does not want to deal with the UN peacekeeping mission.
Last year, Monuc was accused of working with Congolese troops who had committed human rights abuses.
The UN peacekeepers took part in an operation against Rwandan rebels based in eastern DR Congo.
In previous years, many Congolese have accused the UN of not protecting eastern towns from advancing rebel forces - but the UN has said that was not part of its mandate.