Rebels consolidated their grip on a troubled northeastern Congolese town Tuesday as residents identified at least 112 dead after a week of fighting. As calm returned after nearly a week of bloodshed, residents left their homes and began counting civilians killed in the fighting, said Christian Lukusha, representative of Justice Plus, a local human rights group. The fighters captured Bunia on Monday after launching a dawn raid on the town with rockets and mortars, said Patricia Tome, spokeswoman of the U.N. mission in Congo. The rival Hema and Lendu fighters have battled for control of Bunia since Wednesday, killing dozens of people, displacing thousands of residents and looting shops and houses. The Union of Congolese Patriots, led by members of the Hema community, captured Bunia after launching a dawn raid using rockets, mortars and other heavy weapons. The town had been in the hands of Lendu tribal fighters, rivals of the minority Hema. Full Story
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