KINSHASA, March 23 (Reuters) - The Congolese army has restored order in Kinshasa after two days of gunbattles with fighters loyal to former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba, the United Nations mission in Congo (MONUC) said on Friday.

"MONUC welcomes the restoration of order in Kinshasa by government forces. However, MONUC also deeply regrets that force was used in order to resolve the situation that could and should have been settled through dialogue," said a statement distributed to journalists at MONUC headquarters.

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