UN Says Ugandan Rebels Take Away Children In Congo -- Yahoo News/APKINSHASA, Congo - Rebels from neighboring Uganda kidnapped 90 children in eastern Congo, and weeks of fighting in the restive border region have forced 100,000 people to flee their homes, U.N. officials said Monday.
The children were taken away from two village schools last week during a series of attacks in Orientale province, the United Nations Children's Fund said. Local officials identified the attackers as members of Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army rebels, it said.
"UNICEF is very concerned that (the children) will now be forced to fight or support fighting, putting their lives at risk," regional administrator Julien Harneis said in a statement calling for their release. The rebel group has bases in the nearby forest.
Three civilians were killed in the attacks, and a village chief and two Italian also missionaries were abducted, UNICEF said. The attackers burned the village of Kiliwa, leaving only the health center standing, it said.
Clashes continued to erupt between Congolese rebels and army troops farther south, in the province of North Kivu.
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More News On Uganda's Rebels
Ugandan LRA rebels hold 90 Congo children: UNICEF -- Reuters
Kony Runs Rings Around Negotiators -- Institute For War And Peace Reporting
Uganda rebels reject attack claims -- AFP
Uganda rebels accused of attacks in Sudan, Congo -- Reuters
Kony attacks SPLA as UPDF stay on alert -- Daily Monitor (Uganda)
UPDF on high alert over LRA rebels -- New Vision (Uganda)
My Comment: If the Ugandan Government had half a decent army, their battle with these renegades would have been over a long time ago. Unfortunately, Uganda is like most other African countries .... they are too weak and too divided to mount any effective control or stability in regions that are dominated by tyrants and brutal war lords.
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