"Dozens" of People Killed in Raids in DR Congo

According to UN sources, "dozens" of people have been killed as ethnic Rwandan Hutu rebels from the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) increased raids since a joint offensive against them by Congolese and Rwandan troops ended in February.

The Congolese and Rwandan armies carried out a joint operation earlier this year that they said was successful in rooting out the FDLR rebel group.

But correspondents say the rebels have retaken much of their old ground and launched reprisals against civilians.

Rebel reprisal

More than 90 people - including 60 civilians and 30 government soldiers - were killed in an attack blamed on the FDLR in the village of Ekingi in South Kivu province, according to a statement from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) in Kinshasa.

Dozens more were killed in the village of Busurungi, according to the UN-backed radio station Okapi.