Kampala — UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has urged the international community to stop countries from using DR Congo's mineral wealth as a pretext for conflict.

Annan told journalists in New York on Friday that neither should countries exploit Congo's resources to pursue war.

In his first comments since the UN panel's report on Congo was made public a week ago, Annan hinted at the possibility of a ban on exports from the war-torn eastern Congo.

"I would hope that there would be some way of putting a ban, an embargo on exports from there," said Annan in remarks published by the UN News Centre. "We've done it in other situations and I hope that we can find some way of dealing with it in the Congo, either through a direct ban, or governments taking responsibility for companies that are registered in their countries."

Annan said the report raised 'many serious questions', which would have to be addressed by the Security Council, governments in the region, and the international community.

Echoing words of Congo's Foreign Minister She Okitundu the previous day, Annan said illegal exploitation stood in the way of peace in Congo.

In such situations of plunder, Annan said "a sort of war profiteering develops, and there's no interest in peace."

The panel's report, widely condemned by the accused in Rwanda, Uganda and Congo, had said that a ban on exports could be counter-productive.

Uganda's Foreign Affairs minister James Wapakhabulo last week welcomed that observation, saying a ban would only punish the Congolese people.