UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council was briefed Tuesday on the mission of its members this month to five Central African countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, which are recovering from ethnic and territorial conflict.

    French Ambassador, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, who led the mission from Nov. 4 to 11, briefed the Council in an open meeting,focusing on the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi.

    Success in Central Africa was important well beyond the subregion, and it was important for the whole of Africa, the French Ambassador said.

    In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, there are indications that the transition was "gathering speed", he told the Council.

    Everyone had spoken of the Congolese desire to vote, and according to the Independent Electoral Commission, some 20 millionpeople had registered, Sabliere said, adding that everyone was nowlooking forward to the next deadlines: the constitutional referendum in December, the presidential elections, and the deadline for the transition's completion in less than eight months.

    Progress had been commendable, but significant problems remained, including the tight electoral timetable, the integrationof the army and police, and the presence of armed groups in the east of the country, he noted.

    With the success of Burundi's recent political transition an encouraging sign, Sabliere said that three issues had dominated the discussions, starting with the question of the UN presence.

    Its support had been decisive in achieving the transition, but with the transition's completion, the question arose about disengaging the mission, or at least withdrawing its military presence, about which there was general agreement, he said.

    Expressing some disappointment that the Forces nationals de liberation Forces (FNL) remained outside the peace process, he said it was not acceptable for the rebels to impose themselves through violence against the fledgling democratic institutions.

    During the mission, Council members had reminded the Burundian authorities of the possibility of imposing sanctions, he said. Enditem