Congo: Fighting Erupts in the East

By REUTERS

Published: June 19, 2009

Thirty-two people were killed in eastern Congo in fighting that began late Wednesday, a top army officer said Friday. Clashes broke out between soldiers and Rwandan Hutu rebels backed by Congolese militia allies. The rebels overran army positions near Nyabiondo. Government troops retook the area early Friday. The army said 27 rebels and 5 soldiers were killed. A spokesman for the United Nations peacekeepers in Congo said they believed that the initial attack was led by a Congolese militia dissatisfied that it had not yet been integrated into the army after a January peace deal.