UN probes report of troops attack on civilians

THE United Nations is investigating a report that peacekeepers in Congo allegedly fired mortars at a civilian area and stood by as Congolese troops set a village ablaze.

The allegations which were made in the London- based Observer on Sunday said South African and Pakistani troops broke UN rules when they fired toward a village despite the presence of civilians.

The troops were deployed in support of Congolese soldiers chasing militias, and believed all civilians had fled the town of Kana, The Observer reported. It said the UN peacekeepers later did nothing as Congolese troops torched houses in the village.