UNITED NATIONS, March 22 (Reuters) - The U.N. Security Council expressed concern over gunfire and explosions in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday, worried that violent clashes could engulf children and other civilians.

Fighting rocked Kinshasa as armed followers of former rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba fought government troops in the first combat in the capital since landmark elections last year.

The council's statement called on both sides to immediately cease fire and affirmed its support for the 17,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission MONUC, which reinforced positions in central Kinshasa to safeguard civilians.

"Members of the Security Council express their serious concern about the violent clashes that erupted today ... (and) are particularly concerned about the spill-over of the violence on the civilian population, including children," South African Ambassador Dumisano Kumalo, the current council president, told reporters.

After hours of gun battles, Bemba ordered his men to return to their positions and called for an end to shooting.

Bemba's personal militia defied a government order last week to disband after elections that were meant to bring peace to the central African nation.

Separately, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called "for an immediate halt to the fighting which threatens the lives of innocent civilians in the area and risks grave consequences for peace in the country," spokeswoman Mari Okabe said.

The U.N. operation of some 17,000 military personnel was prepared to aid the Congolese government in ending the fighting and re-establishing security in Kinshasa, Okabe added.

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