UN says 17 mass graves found in DR Congo

Kinshasa (AFP) - The UN said Wednesday it had found a further 17 mass graves in the Democratic Republic of Congo's central Kasai region, an area plagued by violence between tribal militias and security forces.

Fighting erupted in Kasai after government troops last August killed tribal chief Jean Pierre Mpandi, also known as Kamwina Nsapu, who had launched an uprising against President Joseph Kabila.

Wednesday's announcement by the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, raises to 40 the number of mass graves discovered in Kasai.

Two United Nations researchers, who had been sent to investigate violence in the region, were found in a grave 16 days after they were abducted last month.

"It is absolutely essential that the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo immediately take the necessary measures, and previously missing steps, for an independent, transparent inquiry that establishes the facts and circumstances of violations and abuses of human rights," Hussein said of the Kasai violence.

If the government does not take such action he would not hesitate to "ask the international community to support an inquiry, which could include the International Criminal Court", Hussein added.

Authorities announced on April 14 that two suspects had been detained over the kidnap and killing of the two UN experts, an American and a dual Swedish-Chilean woman.

One of the suspects, however, escaped with the help of four police officers guarding them.

DR Congo security forces have been accused by the UN of using disproportionate force against militiamen, who are armed mainly with clubs and catapults.

However, the UN also accuses the rebels of recruiting child soldiers and of committing widespread atrocities.