Congo rebel leader should keep ceasefire, says UN chief

New Delhi: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Friday that Congo rebel leader Laurent Nkunda should keep a ceasefire and engage in dialogue.

Nkunda threatened on Thursday to occupy an eastern city unless UN peacekeepers guaranteed a ceasefire.

"This ceasefire should be kept," Ban told a news conference in New Delhi.

Nkunda's threat followed an offensive by Nkunda's Tutsi rebels that sent tens of thousands of civilians fleeing in the North Kivu province.

Nkunda declared a ceasefire late on Wednesday after his forces advanced almost to the limits of Goma, the provincial capital.

"I have been speaking with many leaders," Ban said, mentioning he had been in contact with Congo President Joseph Kabila and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

"The EU is trying to deploy more forces on an urgent basis but some reports say there has been some disagreement ... I sincerely hope to contain the situation."

Nkunda, who has said he is fighting to protect the ethnic Tutsi minority in eastern Congo, has rejected any return to a broad peace deal.

He has said he was ready to talk peace, but with a neutral mediator.