UN accuses DR Congo army of looting, abuses

The UN yesterday accused government forces of widespread looting and human rights abuses against civilians in several towns in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
"Soldiers of the FARDC (Armed Forces of DR Congo) have been engaged since yesterday (Monday) evening in looting and acts of brutality against the civilian population in the Kanyabayonga area," 175km north of regional capital Goma, MONUC spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Paul Dietrich said.
Violence against civilians had spread to other towns further north, Kaina and Kirumba, and was continuing midday Tuesday, Dietrich said in Kinshasa.
The three towns are strategically located in the north of Nord-Kivu province, where rebels loyal to renegade general Laurent Nkunda control much of the territory following an offensive in recent weeks.
Earlier, the New-York based Human Rights Watch said at least 50 civilians, far more than previously thought, were killed during a battle last week in Kiwanja in Nord-Kivu province, and it warned that the figure could rise.
The group urged the UN Security Council to act on an October 30 appeal from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to "urgently increase the number of peacekeepers" to protect civilians in the east of the country.
"The calls from the secretary-general and the cries of distress from the Congolese people should not continue to fall on deaf ears... Civilians need protection now from the killing and raping," it said.
Meanwhile, at least 50 civilians, far more than previously thought, were killed during a battle last week in the east of Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch said Tuesday.
Citing local sources and civilians who had fled Kiwanja in Nord-Kivu province, the group said it had revised its death toll up from the figure of 20 it initially reported last Thursday -- and warned the figure could still rise.
The New York-based group also called on the United Nations to urgently increase the number of peacekeeping troops in the region.
Most of those killed had died at the hands of the National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) rebels, led by renegade Tutsi general Laurent Nkunda, "in reprisal against those deemed to be enemy collaborators," it said.