DR Congo protesters attack UN office over security
The Guardian Newspaper
Tuesday 28 October 2008
Hundreds of protesters on Monday reportedly attacked the United Nations’ headquarters in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A UN spokeswoman said cars were damaged and windows shattered in the regional capital, Goma. The protesters are angry that a 17,000-strong UN force had not better protected them against offensive by rebel forces.
Tens of thousands of people are said to be fleeing towards Goma as government troops retreat. The rebel troops are loyal to renegade general, Laurent Nkunda. UN spokeswoman Sylvie van den Wildenberg told the Associated Press news agency that protesters were throwing stones over the wall of the UN compound. United Nations peacekeepers are now reportedly moving towards the area where fighting with the rebels is taking place. Over the weekend the rebels, who say they are protecting the area’s Tutsi minority, captured a major army camp at Rumangabo and the headquarters of Virunga national park.
