(BBC) The UN has begun talks with Democratic Republic of Congo on withdrawing its peacekeeping mission - the biggest UN operation in the world.
UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said his officials would take a month to assess how the pullout of 20,500 personnel could be carried out.
The current mandate of the mission, known as Monuc, expires in May.
UN troops have a mixed record in DR Congo, with accusations of sex abuse, gold smuggling and running from rebels...