The United Nations says U.N. and Congolese troops have launched an offensive against a militia group in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo says one government soldier and at least six militia fighters have been killed in fighting this week in Ituri province.
A spokesman for the force said at least 1,000 Congolese government troops are involved in the operation. Reuters news agency cites him as saying the militiamen are ethnic Lendu fighters who have refused to join the U.N.-backed disarmament process.
Some 15,000 U.N. troops are in Congo trying to restore order after years of instability and war.
Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution deploring that foreign armed groups continue to operate in the eastern DRC, and demanded that they immediately disarm.
Tags: | • Ituri |