Democratic Republic of the Congo

HC Deb 23 May 2003 vol 406 cc7-8W

Mr. Leigh

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will support the deployment of a United Nations military force in Ituri province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. [114710]

Mr. Rammell

We are very concerned about the situation in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and are monitoring developments closely. We can confirm that the UN has asked the UK and others to participate in an emergency multinational peacekeeping force to stabilise the security situation. We are considering this request urgently.