UN chief urges Congo talks in neutral venue

United Nations: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging the factions fighting in eastern Congo to meet at a neutral site and begin talks on restoring peace to the conflict-wracked region, a senior UN official said on Friday.

Ban, who was in India, said at a news conference that he had been on the phone with leaders in Africa, Europe and the United States and had sent envoys to meet with the presidents of Congo and Rwanda to try to calm the situation.

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who heads the African Union, and Jean Ping, head of the AU Commission, both suggested calling a regional summit, possibly in Tanzania or Ethiopia, said Michael Meyer, Ban's director of communications.

The region has been mired in conflict as rebels under the leadership of Laurent Nkunda have approached Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo with a population of 1 million, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes and camps for the displaced. Nkunda ordered a ceasefire on Wednesday that appeared to be holding on Friday.

"I urge the leaders in the region to take the necessary measures and I also urge General Nkunda ... to disengage and maintain the cease-fire declaration which he has made and engage in dialogue," Ban said in New Delhi. "Now there should be an ongoing political process."

Nkunda said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press in Goma on Thursday that he wanted direct talks with Congo's government.

Rwanda's Tutsi-led government has been accused of supporting Nkunda — an allegation it vehemently denies.

Meyer said Ban and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice briefed each other on their conversations with Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Ban also spoke to Congolese President Joseph Kabila and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who flew to Congo on Friday with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.