By Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press

The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned the upsurge in attacks by the rebel Lord's Resistance Army in Congo, Central African Republic and Sudan and urged these countries to share information with the United Nations to try to protect civilians, especially women and children.

The Ugandan-led rebels frequently cross over the heavily forested borders between the three countries and are notorious for mutilating and murdering civilians and kidnapping children to use as fighters and sex slaves.

After a closed-door briefing, the Security Council "strongly condemned the continued and recently increasing attacks" by LRA rebels in the three countries "which have resulted in the death, abduction and displacement of thousands of civilians."

The council commended the increased co-operation by all countries in the region to address "the serious threat posed by the LRA."

It encouraged the countries to co-operate with the United Nations and share information "in order to make every possible effort to ensure the protection of civilians, in particular women and children." It urged that these efforts conform to international human rights and humanitarian law.

The council also called on the U.N. missions in Sudan, Congo and the Central African Republic to co-ordinate strategies on the protection of civilians.

The LRA has been fighting the Ugandan government for over 20 years, accusing it of discriminating against the country's northern tribes.

The Ugandan military launched a joint operation against LRA rebels in Congo with forces from Congo and southern Sudan from December into March after rebel leader Joseph Kony failed to turn up to sign a peace agreement last year. Kony is still at large, as are many of his commanders, although the rebels have splintered into several smaller groups.

Last month, Medecins Sans Frontieres said violence by members of the LRA, which started in a remote region of northern Congo last year, has recently spread to nearby areas. Few other humanitarian agencies are working in the area, which has few roads.

In the first six months of 2009, a U.N. official said around 1,200 Congolese civilians were killed and 1,500 abducted by the LRA in northeast Congo.

The Security Council reiterated its demand "that the LRA immediately cease all attacks on civilians, and urged them to surrender, assembly and disarm, as required by the Final Peace Agreement."