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Friday, October 30, 2009

Congo soldiers kill unit chief after no-looting order: UN



KINSHASA — Congolese soldiers killed their unit commander when he ordered them not to steal and pillage in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the UN mission to the country (MONUC) said on Wednesday.

"Three soldiers involved in this killing have been arrested (by the Congolese army) and another is one the run," MONUC said.

The UN said the men involved were former Mai-Mai militia members from the Congolese Resistance Patriots movement (PARECO) who recently became part of the army.

Many Mai-Mai militia members fought alongside government troops against Congolese Tutsi rebel leader Laurent Nkunda and his former rebel group, the National Congress for the Defence of the People.

Some PARECO elements refused to join the army, choosing instead to side with Hutu rebels, the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda.

Eastern DR Congo has been plagued by unrest, and the country's army has been repeatedly accused of pillaging.

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