UN drops Congo army over killings

[ccharles000]

The UN has withdrawn its support for an army unit in Democratic Republic of Congo, accusing soldiers of killing 62 civilians, a top UN official says.

UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy said he had information that the army had "clearly targeted" the civilians.

Rights activists have persistently said ethnic Hutus were being killed by the Congolese army, and have accused the UN of doing little to stop the killings.

The UN has been helping the army tackle Rwandan Hutu rebels since January.

Following a tour of the region, Mr Le Roy said the army had killed at least 62 civilians between May and September this year.

"We have decided that Monuc will immediately suspend its logistical and operational support to the army units implicated in these killings," Mr Le Roy told UN-backed Radio Okapi.

He said the killings took place around the village of Lukweti in North Kivu province, about 100km (62 miles) north-west of the provincial capital Goma.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8337610.stm

[Captain Hilts]

1. This should have been done at least ten years ago. nt