KINSHASA, 9 Nov 2005 (IRIN) - A new police facility opened on Tuesday in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kinshasa, to bring the country's disparate police units under central command and control.

The units were created by various governments and rebel factions where they controlled territory during the country's civil war.

The new 1.1-million-euro (US $1.3-million) facility is funded by the EU, according to EU ambassador to the DRC Carlo De Filipo, and located at the city's landmark television tower on Patrice Lumumba Place. Some 1,008 police personnel are manning the building. They were recently trained at a rehabilitate police centre also funded by the EU.

Interior Minister Theophile Mbemba said the work of integrating the police ensured that the institutions of transitional government would be protected. However, De Filipo said the government must do its part in supporting police.

"The government must pay them their salaries and allowances regularly," he said.