The UN Security Council has called on anti-government militants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to immediately cease hostilities and withdraw from all the areas they now control.



The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire on Friday.



In the eastern part of the conflict-torn central African country, troops from the M23 rebel group have entered the center of the major city of Bukavu and are quickly expanding the areas under their control.



The resolution also orders the armed forces of neighboring Rwanda to stop supporting the M23 and to immediately withdraw from the DRC without preconditions.



Speaking to reporters, UN special representative in the DRC Bintou Keita expressed concern that the M23 likely intends to advance to the capital, Kinshasa.



Keita condemned "the intolerable degree of suffering that this conflict is causing to the people of eastern DRC, including women, girls and young people" with cases of harassment, sexual violence and killing as well as forced recruitment of children.



Peacekeepers from the United Nations and African countries have been supporting the DRC government. However, there are growing fears that the rapid advance of the rebel forces may develop into a regional conflict involving neighboring countries.