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Uganda rebels 'kidnapping' in CAR Uganda rebels 'kidnapping' in CAR
(about 2 hours later)
More than 100 people are being held in Central African Republic, by armed men who officials say are rebels from the Ugandan Lord's Resistance Army. More than 100 people are being held in Central African Republic, by armed men who local officials say are rebels from Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).
Most of the villagers abducted were women and girls, and they had been abused, a CAR parliamentarian said. Most of the villagers abducted were women and girls, and some have been gang-raped, a UN official told the BBC.
The Ugandan government and the LRA are due to sign a peace deal on 5 April.The Ugandan government and the LRA are due to sign a peace deal on 5 April.
Earlier this month, the Ugandan authorities said LRA leader Joseph Kony had moved to CAR from his base in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Earlier this month, the Ugandan authorities said LRA leader Joseph Kony had moved to CAR from his base in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
This move violated the terms of a ceasefire agreement.This move violated the terms of a ceasefire agreement.
We cannot confirm it is official LRA - it could be a dissident branch Jean-Sebastien Munier, Ocha
Humanitarian sources have confirmed that 150 people have been abducted in south-eastern CAR in recent days, the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman reports.Humanitarian sources have confirmed that 150 people have been abducted in south-eastern CAR in recent days, the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman reports.
Reports say about 30 elders, who were used to carry looted goods for their abductors, have now been set free.Reports say about 30 elders, who were used to carry looted goods for their abductors, have now been set free.
About half of those were taken are reported to be girls, some as young as six.About half of those were taken are reported to be girls, some as young as six.
Some of those freed said they heard the girls screaming during the night.
Night-time attacksNight-time attacks
The newly released elders say they were taken to a camp where the girls were offered to armed men by the rebel commander.The newly released elders say they were taken to a camp where the girls were offered to armed men by the rebel commander.
Mboli Nani, MP for Obo in south-eastern CAR, said that some of those who had escaped from the rebels testified they had been beaten by their abductors.Mboli Nani, MP for Obo in south-eastern CAR, said that some of those who had escaped from the rebels testified they had been beaten by their abductors.
He said the armed men spoke English, Arabic and Lingala.He said the armed men spoke English, Arabic and Lingala.
"The style they used is the style of the LRA," Mr Nani told the BBC."The style they used is the style of the LRA," Mr Nani told the BBC.
"They attack in the night slowly and quietly - they take people and they steal goods.""They attack in the night slowly and quietly - they take people and they steal goods."
United Nations humanitarian officials have sent a mission to the region, but its findings have not yet been made public. The head of Ocha, the UN's humanitarian affairs agency in CAR, Jean-Sebastien Munier, told the BBC that the area where the kidnappings occurred was extremely remote and difficult to access.
"We cannot confirm it is official LRA - it could be a dissident branch," he said, after the return of UN fact-finding team from the region.
The 22-year conflict between the LRA and the Ugandan government in northern Uganda has left thousands dead and nearly two million displaced.The 22-year conflict between the LRA and the Ugandan government in northern Uganda has left thousands dead and nearly two million displaced.
The LRA insists that the war crimes indictments placed on its leaders at the International Criminal Court are lifted before they sign the deal.The LRA insists that the war crimes indictments placed on its leaders at the International Criminal Court are lifted before they sign the deal.
Uganda's government says the LRA leaders should face justice locally, not in The Hague but it does not have the power to get the arrest warrants cancelled.Uganda's government says the LRA leaders should face justice locally, not in The Hague but it does not have the power to get the arrest warrants cancelled.