At least 11 former members of armed rebel groups were killed Wednesday when their protest was put down by the army in Kamina in southern Congo, demonstrators said, according to dpa. The former rebels, who were being lodged at an army base, were demanding that the government keep its promises of integrating them back into civilian life. The victims included 10 former rebels and a child, according to one demonstrator who did not want to be named. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said he was only aware of one government soldier having been killed. The governor of Haut-Lomami province, Celestin Mbuyu Kabango, said he had been "informed about this situation" but did not yet have details. Dozens of armed groups seeking control over territory and mineral resources have remained active in eastern Congo since the 1996-2003 Congo wars.
