UN probes massacre claims
2006-06-21 22:43
Kinshasa - The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is investigating reports its soldiers colluded in a
massacre of civilians and the destruction of a village during
joint operations with the army, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Britain's Observer newspaper reported on Sunday that United
Nations peacekeepers contributed to the destruction of civilian
villages during joint operations on April 22 with government
forces in Congo's lawless east.
The accusations come as the world body continues its
attempts to pacify the DRC ahead of the
vast African nation's elections, which are due on July 30th and
should be the first free polls there in over 40 years.
"We have launched an inquiry and it is ongoing," UN
spokesperson Kemal Saiki told reporters when asked to comment on
the article.
"We will keep the public informed of the progress of the
inquiry," he added.
The article, based on a television report due to air on
Britain's Channel 4 on Friday, said peacekeepers broke UN
rules by opening fire with mortars and machine guns when women
and children were present.
It said UN soldiers then stood aside and watched as
government forces torched huts in the hamlet called Kazana, in
the northeastern Ituri district, killing civilians.
The accusations highlight the complicated task the UN's
largest peacekeeping mission faces, operating alongside poorly
paid and ill-disciplined government soldiers on joint operations
against rebels and militias.
- Reuters