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Ugandan LRA 'in church massacre' Ugandan LRA 'in church massacre'
(40 minutes later)
Uganda's army has accused the Lord's Resistance Army rebels of hacking to death 45 civilians in a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.Uganda's army has accused the Lord's Resistance Army rebels of hacking to death 45 civilians in a Catholic church in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Capt Chris Magezi said it happened the day after Christmas near Doruma, close to the border with South Sudan.Capt Chris Magezi said it happened the day after Christmas near Doruma, close to the border with South Sudan.
"We got information that the rebels cut 45 people into pieces," Capt Magezi was quoted by AFP news agency as saying. He said the scene at the church was "horrendous... dead bodies of mostly women and children cut in pieces".
A rebel spokesman has denied responsibility for the killings, which follow a collapse in the peace process.A rebel spokesman has denied responsibility for the killings, which follow a collapse in the peace process.
Other reports say more than 100 people were killed.
The UN's humanitarian agency, Ocha, says 189 people were killed in the region at the end of last week, reports the Reuters news agency.
The armies of Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo carried out a joint offensive against the rebels in mid-December after LRA leader Joseph Kony again refused to sign a peace deal.The armies of Uganda, South Sudan and DR Congo carried out a joint offensive against the rebels in mid-December after LRA leader Joseph Kony again refused to sign a peace deal.
I hid in bush near the church and heard people wailing as they were being cut with machetes Abel LongiI hid in bush near the church and heard people wailing as they were being cut with machetes Abel Longi
The LRA leader, who has lived in a jungle hideout in north-eastern DR Congo for the last few years, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.The LRA leader, who has lived in a jungle hideout in north-eastern DR Congo for the last few years, is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Uganda's government had been involved in lengthy peace negotiations with the LRA, hosted by the South Sudanese government.Uganda's government had been involved in lengthy peace negotiations with the LRA, hosted by the South Sudanese government.
But Mr Kony has demanded that arrest warrants for him and his associates be dropped before any agreement can be struck.But Mr Kony has demanded that arrest warrants for him and his associates be dropped before any agreement can be struck.
'Propaganda''Propaganda'
Aid officials requesting anonymity near Doruma, which is about 40km from the border with South Sudan, confirmed to Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper and to AFP that the massacre had taken place. Aid officials requesting anonymity near Doruma, which is about 40km from the border with South Sudan, confirmed to Uganda's Daily Monitor newspaper and to the AFP news agency that the massacre had taken place.
Congo terror after LRA rebel raidsCongo terror after LRA rebel raids
"Bodies of the women and children, with deep cuts are littered inside and outside the church," an aid official told The Monitor."Bodies of the women and children, with deep cuts are littered inside and outside the church," an aid official told The Monitor.
Witness Abel Longi told the AP news agency that he recognised the LRA rebels by their dreadlocked hair, their Acholi language and the number of young boys among them.Witness Abel Longi told the AP news agency that he recognised the LRA rebels by their dreadlocked hair, their Acholi language and the number of young boys among them.
"I hid in bush near the church and heard people wailing as they were being cut with machetes," he said."I hid in bush near the church and heard people wailing as they were being cut with machetes," he said.
There are reports of dozens more deaths in LRA raids in DR Congo and South Sudan in the past week.
However, LRA spokesman David Nekorach Matsanga has denied that the rebels are behind the killings.However, LRA spokesman David Nekorach Matsanga has denied that the rebels are behind the killings.
"Reports about the LRA killing innocent civilians is another propaganda campaign by the Uganda army," he said."Reports about the LRA killing innocent civilians is another propaganda campaign by the Uganda army," he said.
"I have it on good authority from the field commanders that the LRA is not in those areas where the killings are reported to have taken place.""I have it on good authority from the field commanders that the LRA is not in those areas where the killings are reported to have taken place."
He said the massacre may have been carried out by Ugandan soldiers.He said the massacre may have been carried out by Ugandan soldiers.
"They want to justify their stay in DRC [Congo] and loot minerals from there like they did before," he told AP."They want to justify their stay in DRC [Congo] and loot minerals from there like they did before," he told AP.
Capt Magezi said that on Saturday the army had killed 13 of the rebels behind the alleged attack and were pursing the rest of the group.Capt Magezi said that on Saturday the army had killed 13 of the rebels behind the alleged attack and were pursing the rest of the group.
Many thousands of Congolese villagers fled their homes after LRA attacks near Dungu in October.Many thousands of Congolese villagers fled their homes after LRA attacks near Dungu in October.
Countries from Uganda to the Central African Republic have suffered 20 years of terror inflicted by the LRA.Countries from Uganda to the Central African Republic have suffered 20 years of terror inflicted by the LRA.
Tens of thousands of children have been abducted to be fighters and sex slaves.Tens of thousands of children have been abducted to be fighters and sex slaves.
Uganda's government said the joint offensive had destroyed some 70% of the LRA camps in DR Congo.Uganda's government said the joint offensive had destroyed some 70% of the LRA camps in DR Congo.
BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says that Mr Kony's force is relatively small - about 650 strong - but the difficulty is that when it is hit, it scatters then regroups.BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says that Mr Kony's force is relatively small - about 650 strong - but the difficulty is that when it is hit, it scatters then regroups.