U.S. urges conerned countries to help end hostilities in DRC

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The United States on Tuesday expressed alarm at the rapid deterioration of the security situation in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), calling on all concerned countries to help end the hostilities there.

State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland called M23's renewed military campaign "an affront to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the DRC and in violation of international law."

"The United States is gravely alarmed by the rapid deterioration of the security situation in eastern DRC," she said in a written statement. "We call for a ceasefire, and for the M23 to return Goma to DRC authorities and pull back to their July positions."

Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, fell under M23's control earlier in the day, the latest advance by the militant group despite the presence there of a 1,500-strong UN mission known as MONUSCO.

The M23 gave the government a 24-hour deadline on Monday for halting military actions and turning to negotiations, but was rejected by Kinshasa.

"We call upon all states to use their influence on the M23 to bring about an immediate end to the hostilities," Nuland said, naming in particular Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

The United Nations said the M23 rebels are being supported by neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, a charge both countries deny.

Kagame and DRC President Joseph Kabila met in Ugandan capital Kampala on Tuesday for crisis talks with Museveni following Goma's fall.

"We urge Presidents Kabila, Kagame and Museveni to engage in a direct and honest dialogue in pursuit of a political resolution to the immediate hostilities," Nuland said.

"We believe it is critical that any resolution to the crisis include holding the M23 leadership accountable for their human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law," she added.

She voiced support for the UN Security Council statement issued on Saturday, including its call for additional sanctions against the M23 leadership and an immediate end of all outside support and equipment supply for the rebel group.

The M23 rebellion started in April when a militia that had been integrated into the DRC armed forces mutinied, and the militant group has since operated in the eastern part of the country.