UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Friday called on the main rebel group in the country to resume talks with the government next week to end the escalating violence.

    The mission, known as the MONUC, said the National Congress in Defense of the People (CNDP) would have an opportunity to raise with the government all issues it concerned in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Jan. 7.

    The Nairobi talks, guided by the U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy Olusegun Obasanjo and African Union (AU) representative Benjamin Mkapa, began last month and aim to end the conflict, which has displaced more than 1 million people over the past few years.

    MONUC also rejected the CNDP's questioning of its commitment to stabilizing the situation and protecting civilians during the war.

    "MONUC is tirelessly working to fulfill its mandate as a peacekeeping mission to ensure the protection of civilians, reinforce the DRC's legitimate institutions and foster national reconciliation and internal political dialogue," the mission said in a statement.

    The mission also called on the CNDP and all parties to refrain from any act that could provoke a resumption of hostilities.

    The eastern part of the country has also witnessed fighting among the mainly Hutu Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the Mai Mai and other militant groups, triggering a humanitarian crisis that could spiral out of control.