UN to move staff out of besieged DR Congo city

The United Nations will on Tuesday move 'non-essential staff' from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Goma because of growing rebel attacks, a UN spokesman said. UN peacekeeping spokesman Kieran Dwyer stressed that UN peacekeepers, who came under "heavy mortar fire" from the rebels near Goma on Monday, would stay in the city. "Starting tomorrow, non-essential UN staff will be temporarily relocated from Goma. Troops will stay to protect civilians," Dwyer said. The United Nations moved to protect the 625 international staff in the city as international concern grew over the rebellion by the M23 group, which is believed to be backed by Rwanda. France on Monday distributed a draft UN Security Council resolution seeking action against M23 leaders. The resolution would seek "additional sanctions against (M23) leaders and call for an immediate halt to all external support to the rebels," France said on its Twitter account. French ambassador Gerard Araud said the question of foreign support would be "a delicate part of the resolution" which he hoped would come to a vote before Thursday. The United Nations reported new clashes at Goma airport and shooting inside the city. Dwyer said the M23 launched an attack close to Goma airport on Monday afternoon that was accompanied by "heavy mortar fire". "Some of the shells landed near MONUSCO troops in Munigi and Goma airport," he added. The UN mission, officially known as MONUSCU, has been making a stand with DR Congo troops at Munigi, which is next to the airport. "The situation in Goma remains extremely tense. The violence in and around Goma is hampering efforts to provide humanitarian relief and vulnerable populations who are already displaced are being forced to flee again," Dwyer added. Another spokesman said the violence inside the city was shooting which had been heard in several districts, but it was not known whether the rebels are involved. The M23 issued a statement calling for talks with the government but this has been rejected by the authorities. UN leader Ban Ki-moon spoke Sunday with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, who is current chairman of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, said the peacekeeping spokesman. Museveni "indicated that he had spoken to the M23 rebels and called for calm," Dwyer added. Rwanda and Uganda have strongly denied any role in the rebellion in DR Congo. Museveni is leading regional efforts to mediate between the government and M23.