U.N. Security Council agrees lower troop cap for Congo mission

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council has agreed a compromise on a reduced troop cap of 16,215 for its peacekeeping mission in Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations' largest and most expensive, after the United States asked for it to be cut by a quarter, diplomats said on Thursday.

The 15-member body is due to vote on Friday to renew the mandate for the $1.2 billion operation, known as MONUSCO, amid U.N. warnings that violence is spreading across the central African state ahead of planned elections before the end of 2017.