68 dead, 300 missing in western DRC

Deadly clashes in west DR Congo
BBC news 17/3/2008
At least 68 people have been killed during violence in the west of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Dozens were wounded in the clashes between the police and members of Bundu Dia Kongo, a religious and political group that has its own militia. It accuses the central government of corruption and mismanagement and is trying to establish its own authority in the west ... A UN internal report, leaked to the BBC, says that at least 68 people have been killed since the start of this month, and more than 300 members of Bundu Dia Kongo are missing in this vast region. Two bodies have been seen by the UN in one of the many rivers of this hilly area. The UN report said the number of casualties could be much higher ... At the end of last month, a Congolese army captain was killed - allegedly by members of Bundu Dia Kongo ... Since then, the Congolese police have started a campaign against this group that includes destroying its churches and many houses believed to have belonged to its members. The chief of the Congolese police has said the operation will continue until state authority is restored. Bundu Dia Kongo (the People of Congo) challenged the state's authority and tried to impose its own rule in the villages of western Congo ... the religious group also has its own militia made of young men armed with sticks and machetes ... Since the start of the police operation at the beginning of this month, dozens of members of the group, including some children, have been admitted to the hospital in the port town of Matadi. They had gunshot injuries, but some also had machete wounds. They said they had been tortured by the police ... The chief of Bundu Dia Kongo, who is an elected member of parliament, wants peace talks to be organised, but his demand has been rejected by the government.