Rebel group denies northeast Congo massacre detailed in Human Rights Watch report

Rebel group denies northeast Congo massacre

KAMPALA, Uganda — A Ugandan rebel group accused of slaughtering hundreds of civilians in neighboring Congo is denying it took part in the massacre.

Human Rights Watch said in a report over the weekend that the Lord’s Resistance Army rampaged through at least 10 villages late last year, hacking people to death with machetes. The report said children abducted by the rebels were even forced to execute other children.

LRA official David Matsanga said Monday that there are no LRA rebels in Congo and blamed the massacres on Ugandan troops. A Ugandan army spokesman denied that allegation.

The Lord’s Resistance Army is considered one of Africa’s most brutal rebel armies, and its leaders are the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.