New York  - The United Nations Security Council continues to contemplate additional forces for a peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civilians are increasingly bearing the brunt of fighting between government troops and rebels.

In a closed-door meeting late Tuesday in New York, UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy briefed the 15-country Security Council on the situation in the eastern DR Congo, where government troops in full retreat have reportedly resorted to looting and other abuses against civilians.

The UN mission in DR Congo is currently the international body's largest worldwide with 17,000 troops and police.

UN officials are seeking and additional 3,000 forces to help protect civilians. Le Roy told reporters late Tuesday that even that expansion would not be enough to fully protect non-combatants in the region. (dpa)