03 12 13 Associated Press: United Nations to fly drones over eastern Congo

U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous, in Congo for the
maiden voyage of the five drones, said the unmanned aircraft will be “an
essential tool” in the peacekeeping mission’s military plan. Now that the M23
rebel group has been defeated, he said the U.N. needs to turn its attention to
other rebel militias operating in eastern Congo.

After years of criticism for alleged inaction,
the U.N. has taken a more aggressive role in Congo’s conflict, and a special
U.N. brigade was instrumental in helping to defeat the M23 rebel group last
month.