India consults U.N. on future of its peace mission in Congo

New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI) With Indian peace-keepers coming
under fire in the raging battle between government and rebel
forces in Congo, India is seriously weighing its options
vis-a-vis its U.N.-sponsored mission in the war-ravaged
African nation.

India has also expressed "concern" over the latest
developments in Congo, where three Army personnel, including a
Lieutenant Colonel, were injured after being attacked with
rockets in the course of a battle between government and rebel
forces recently.

"We are very much concerned about the latest developments
there. Because we are (caught) in between (government and
rebel forces) now. It is a very serious development," Defence
Minister A.K. Antony told reporters here, on the sidelines of
the ongoing Navy Commanders Conference.

Asked if India was having a re-think about its
peace-keeping role in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Antony
said, "We have already taken it up with the United Nations for
future course of action."

However, he did not elaborate on what were the options
before India in the wake of its troops coming under attack and
several other countries refusing to do the peace-keepers' role
in the troubled northern Kivu province.

"Already I told you we are very much concerned about the
latest developments there and that is why we have already
taken up with the U.N. about the future course of our
peace-keeping....we now have to proceed for the future," he
said, when asked about the possible outcome of it taking up
the matter with the U.N.

A Lt Colonel and two other personnel of Indian Army on a
peace mission in Congo were injured when a contingent of U.N.
troops came under attack during a battle between government
and rebel forces in northern Kivu province on September 25.

Five rockets were fired on two armoured personnel
carriers belonging to the Indian troops while they were
maintaining security for civilians, resulting in injuries to
the Lt Col and two other personnel.

In the wake of fighting between the government forces and
rebels, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has issued an
urgent appeal for an end to the conflict.

U.N. envoy in Congo, Alan Doss, also demanded more troops
to be deployed in the region after heavy fighting between
rebels and government forces in eastern Congo, close to the
regional capital Goma.

Indian Army, which is the largest contributor to the
17,000-strong U.N. force, is expected to stop any advance by
rebels, who have made significant progress in the last two
days.

Indian troops were asked to deploy themselves from Goma
to adjoining North Kivu province, after the Uruguayan
battalion deployed in the region fled and the Senegalese
troops refused to be deployed there.