More than 500 rapes in east Congo - UN Report

UNITED NATIONS (AP)

The United Nations (UN) reported more than 500 rapes in eastern Congo in the past month - more than double the number previously reported.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Atul Khare told the UN Security Council Tuesday that in addition to the 242 rapes in and around the village of Luvungi that were reported earlier this month, more than 260 other rapes and sexual attacks took place in Uvira and other regions of North and South Kivu.

In addition, he said, there are some reports that in one village, Kiluma, all women may have been systematically raped.

Khare called for prosecution of Rwandan rebel, FDLR, and Congolese Mai-Mai rebels blamed for many of the attacks and UN sanctions against their leaders.