Women and children take up arms for militia

WOMEN and children, some as young as eight, are fighting with militia forces that have attacked villages in eastern Congo and killed dozens while forcing more than 70,000 people to flee their homes, a UN spokesman has claimed.

Kemal Saiki described classic guerrilla warfare tactics. “During the day these women could be at home grinding manioc, and two hours later have a machete or AK-47 blowing you away,” said Mr Saiki.

Peacekeepers killed as many as 60 fighters last week after being fired upon near the village of Loga, some 20 miles north of Bunia, and villagers claim women and children were among those killed. Human rights groups were investigating those claims.