UN chief calls for robust special force for Congo

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Tuesday for the Security Council to authorize a new muscular intervention force that could conduct offensive operations in the Congo’s troubled eastern region.

In a briefing to the council, Ban recommended a special force that would be part of the existing United Nations peacekeeping operation in Congo, known as MONUSCO. The U.N. peacekeepers have been criticized for doing little to stop M23 rebels from sweeping through eastern Congo and seizing the key city of Goma in November.