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Rebel raids 'spreading in Congo' Rebel raids 'spreading in Congo'
(about 3 hours later)
The situation in northern Democratic Republic of Congo where Lord's Resistance Army rebels operate is getting worse, a medical charity says.The situation in northern Democratic Republic of Congo where Lord's Resistance Army rebels operate is getting worse, a medical charity says.
Medecins Sans Frontieres told the BBC hundred of thousands of people are fleeing renewed rebel attacks. Medecins Sans Frontieres told the BBC hundreds of thousands of people are fleeing renewed rebel attacks.
LRA leader Joseph Kony once operated from Uganda but his fighters now cover a vast area of central Africa.LRA leader Joseph Kony once operated from Uganda but his fighters now cover a vast area of central Africa.
Analysts says attempts this year by regional armed forces to halt the brutal campaign have so far failed.Analysts says attempts this year by regional armed forces to halt the brutal campaign have so far failed.
The rebels are infamous for carrying out mutilations, kidnappings and rapes. People are kidnapped, raped, their houses are burned MSF's Meine Nicolai class="" href="/2/hi/africa/8284977.stm">Rebel terror spreads to CAR
Tens of thousands of people have died and many more have been made homeless during the LRA's two-decade insurgency. The armies of Uganda, southern Sudan and DR Congo have been carrying out offensives against the rebels since Mr Kony refused to sign a peace deal late last year.
The rebels are infamous for carrying out mutilations and have kidnapped tens of thousands of children to be fighters and sex slaves.
Tens of thousands of people have also been made homeless during the LRA's two-decade insurgency.
'Living in fear''Living in fear'
MSF says roads are now so insecure that aircraft are being used to take supplies and staff to remote locations. MSF says roads in northern DR Congo are now so insecure that aircraft are being used to take supplies and staff to remote locations.
LRA rebels often mutilate their victims, cutting off lips, ears and noses ANALYSIS Martin PlautBBC News
What is Joseph Kony's strategy? If reports are confirmed that Kony's forces are heading towards Darfur, it would allow the LRA to link up with the Janjaweed - the fighters backed by Sudan's government.
In the past Khartoum provided weapons and supplies to the LRA. If Kony reached Darfur this could be done much more easily. The southern Sudanese government has repeatedly accused the authorities in Khartoum of arming the LRA - accusations the north has strenuously denied.
But observers - some of whom were sceptical of these claims in the past - are now coming round to the view that the Sudanese government is indeed in league with the LRA - as a means of destabilising the emerging government in southern Sudan.
It is a complex situation and little about it is absolutely clear, but if these reports of LRA progress towards Darfur are true, then it is a very dangerous development indeed.
"The situation is really bad: the people are living in constant fear, they're fleeing," MSF's Operational Director Meine Nicolai told the BBC's Network Africa programme."The situation is really bad: the people are living in constant fear, they're fleeing," MSF's Operational Director Meine Nicolai told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"The violence pops up in different areas and it's really expanding. It came to Congo in 2008 and now it's going more and more eastwards so the area is expanding and people live in constant fear.""The violence pops up in different areas and it's really expanding. It came to Congo in 2008 and now it's going more and more eastwards so the area is expanding and people live in constant fear."
Ms Nicolai said civilians were clearly being targeted. Ms Nicolai said civilians were being targeted.
"People are kidnapped, raped, their houses are burned ; they're fleeing, they leave everything and there's no way that they can return." "People are kidnapped, raped, their houses are burned; they're fleeing, they leave everything and there's no way that they can return."
Reports from the region suggest there are several groups of LRA fighters: some in DR Congo and another of about 1,300 in the Central African Republic, led by one of Mr Kony's deputies. She said people desperately need food, water, medical care and psychological support.
Mr Kony himself is reportedly moving northwards. Reports from the region suggest there are several groups of LRA fighters: some in DR Congo and another 1,300-strong force in the Central African Republic, led by one of Mr Kony's deputies.
Sources suggest this group may be being harassed by Ugandan special forces operating helicopters from Yambio in southern Sudan. Mr Kony himself is reportedly moving northwards, with reports suggesting Ugandan special forces are using helicopters to attack his group from Yambio in southern Sudan.
BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says there are also suggestions, yet to be confirmed, that Mr Kony's aim is to take his forces into the Sudanese region of South Darfur.BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says there are also suggestions, yet to be confirmed, that Mr Kony's aim is to take his forces into the Sudanese region of South Darfur.
Last year Mr Kony, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, failed to sign a peace deal with the Uganda government brokered by southern Sudan.Last year Mr Kony, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, failed to sign a peace deal with the Uganda government brokered by southern Sudan.