DRC latest massacres increases total death-toll to 200 civilians

NEW YORK, Nov 26 (KUNA) -- Latest massacres perpetrated against civilians near the city of Beni in North Kivu, have increased number of civilians killed to more than 200 since mid-October.
Members of the Security Council condemned in a statement the recent massacres, and expressed their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
The UNSC also condemned attacks that targeted peacekeepers of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
They also emphasized that any effort to undermine MONUSCO's ability to implement its mandate will not be tolerated and that those responsible for threats or attacks against peacekeepers must be held accountable.
The members of the Security Council recalled that it was of the utmost importance that the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and MONUSCO, in accordance with its mandate in Security Council resolution 2147 (2014), permanently reduce threats against civilians, immediately redouble efforts to provide proactive protection of civilians and neutralize armed groups still operating in eastern DRC.
Nevertheless, the Council also underlined the need to identify those responsible for these attacks and to hold them accountable.
In addition to the Allied Defense Forces (ADF), the statement added, the members of the Security Council reiterated their call for the neutralization of the Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Rwanda (FDLR) in line with relevant Security Council resolutions and the Security Council presidential statement of November 5, 2014.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their support for MONUSCO and called on all parties to cooperate fully with the mission and to remain committed to the full and objective implementation of the mission's mandate.(end) mao.gta