United Nations, MAY 16, SPA -- The Security Council on Tuesday extended for an additional six months the U.N. s MONUC peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The vote was unanimous. The resolution on MONUC, the largest of the 19 U.N. peacekeeping missions with 22,000 people, is significant because it was written in conjunction with DRC authorities, and has been adapted to the post-transition period of the African nation s elections, which were conducted in November 2006. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to submit to the council by November 15 a report containing the benchmarks and an indicative timetable for the gradual drawdown of MONUC, the resolution said. A DRC diplomat indicated that his government requested the gradual drawdown of troops and staff. He did not have a timeline to offer, but indicated that it would be within a period of less than five years. MONUC remains a stabilizing force in the country, which continues to recover from a civil war. MONUC has been instrumental in trying to stem the ongoing violence in the eastern Iturri region of the country as rival rebel groups and foreign militia continue to fight to gain control of the area s rich mineral deposits. As you know, the secretary-general went himself to DRC last January before presenting his recommendations to the council, said French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere after the vote. He also announced that a council mission will go to DRC in June to accompany the implementation of this resolution. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/450301