Peace deal for Congo delayed at African Union meeting; UN leader blames 'procedural issues'

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says an agreement to end violence in Congo was delayed over "procedural issues."

Speaking at the African Union summit in Ethiopia, Ban told a news conference Monday that there are no fundamental differences holding back the agreement. A signing ceremony scheduled for Monday was canceled.

The peace deal is an effort at a large-scale political framework to end violence in Congo. Separate talks are taking place in Uganda between the rebel group known as M23 and Congolese officials. Jean Baptiste Rudaseswa, a lawyer for M23, said he was happy Ban's peace plan has so far failed because he said it risked destabilizing Congo further.

Ban said the U.N. is looking at establishing a "peace enforcement capacity" as part of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo.