Civilians burnt to death
2005-07-11 19:52
Bukavu - An armed gang burnt 26 civilians to death in a weekend attack on a village in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said the UN mission in the DRC (Monuc) on Monday.
Kemal Saiki of Monuc said: "More than 30 civilians, mostly woman, were killed and about 50 wounded" in the attack on Saturday night on Ntulumamba village, about 70km northeast of Bukavu.
Sud-Kivu province was one of the most volatile parts of a vast central African nation emerging from a 1998-2003 war, and like areas further north was home to many former rebels and militia groups.
Saiki said the victims were forced into their huts and their homes were set ablaze.
South Kivu Province governor Didace Kamimgimi said there were "39 burnt huts and 26 bodies found" when DRC troops went to the scene on Sunday.
Witnesses who fled blamed local militias and a Hutu rebel force from neighbouring Rwanda long holed up in the area, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.