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| DR Congo rangers killed in raid to free US journalist | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Five Congolese park rangers have been killed in an operation to rescue a US journalist and three other rangers, officials say. | Five Congolese park rangers have been killed in an operation to rescue a US journalist and three other rangers, officials say. |
| The group had gone missing during a militia attack on the town of Mambasa in the Okapi wildlife reserve, in the northeast of the country, on Friday. | The group had gone missing during a militia attack on the town of Mambasa in the Okapi wildlife reserve, in the northeast of the country, on Friday. |
| Cosma Wilungula, the head of DR Congo's park service, told Reuters the gunmen were mining gold inside the reserve. | Cosma Wilungula, the head of DR Congo's park service, told Reuters the gunmen were mining gold inside the reserve. |
| The mineral-rich east of the country has been wracked by decades of war. | The mineral-rich east of the country has been wracked by decades of war. |
| The kidnapping happened when a group of armed men from the Mai Mai militia attacked a group of park rangers accompanying three foreign journalists, Radio Okapi reported. | The kidnapping happened when a group of armed men from the Mai Mai militia attacked a group of park rangers accompanying three foreign journalists, Radio Okapi reported. |
| During the exchange of fire, some of the group, including two Dutch journalists, were able to escape. | During the exchange of fire, some of the group, including two Dutch journalists, were able to escape. |
| The Mai Mai describe themselves as "self defence" groups. Many were armed during the DR Congo war that ran from 1998 to 2003 and were never disarmed. | |
| Park rangers working to protect wildlife regularly clash with the groups, who exploit minerals, wildlife and other resources. | Park rangers working to protect wildlife regularly clash with the groups, who exploit minerals, wildlife and other resources. |
| The Okapi reserve covers nearly 14,000 sq km (5,400 sq miles) and protects part of the Ituri forest near the borders with South Sudan and Uganda. | The Okapi reserve covers nearly 14,000 sq km (5,400 sq miles) and protects part of the Ituri forest near the borders with South Sudan and Uganda. |