UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- UN peacekeepers joined the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) troops to protect villagers after rebel militias killed nine civilians in the country's east, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.
The UN mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, reported heavy fighting between the M23 armed group and Congolese national forces, said Farhan Haq, deputy chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The clashes occurred in the Rutshuru area of North Kivu province.
Haq said MONUSCO reported that at least nine civilians were killed Wednesday during clashes near communities around 8 to 16 km from Rutshuru. The mission and security forces seek to deter armed groups and engage actors at national and regional levels to restore peace and stability.
He said the clashes follow a series of attacks by the militia band on villages in the area, which prompted the Congolese armed forces to respond and, with the support of UN peacekeepers, protect the targeted communities.
The mission reported that its humanitarian partners estimated the continuing clashes had displaced 34,500 people, Haq said. ■
