Nine killed in Ugandan rebel attack

Ugandan rebels shot dead or burned alive nine people during an attack in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the military and humanitarian sources said Wednesday.

The attack on Tuesday targeted several villages about 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Beni, which has been plagued by a string of attacks by the mainly Muslim rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

“We are pursuing the enemy,” said Lieutenant Make Hazukay.

He confirmed the killing was committed by ADF, which is accused of murdering over 400 people in nine months of massacres in and around the major eastern trading hub of Beni.

The head of an NGO in the Beni area said the attackers struck three villages between 5 pm (1500 GMT) and dawn.

“Six civilians were shot dead, three burned alive and two were reported missing,” said Teddy Kataliko, adding that 69 huts were torched.

Kataliko called on DR Congo President Joseph Kabila to launch a large-scale offensive to rid the region of ADF. He said military operations have slackened recently against the rebels, who have been in eastern DR Congo since 1995.