8 killed in DRC militia attack

Eight people, including two rangers, a soldier and five militiamen were killed in a militia attack near Lake Edward in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Virunga national park, park authorities said on Friday.
A soldier who was helping the park rangers was killed and three others were wounded, one seriously, in the attack on Thursday in the northeast of the country.
The clash also claimed the lives of five rebels from the Mai Mai Pareco group, while two were wounded and one was captured.
The wounded rebels were under guard at the hospital in Vitshumbi, a statement from the park management said. Both the park rangers, who worked for the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature, were killed instantly.
The Virunga park, which is famous for its rare mountain gorillas, has become the scene of fighting between soldiers and armed groups, such as the Mai Mai tribal militia, which are among many rival forces active in eastern DRC.
The army is pitted against both local and foreign armed groups in Nord-Kivu province, where the park lies on the border with Rwanda and Uganda, and rebel forces have gained ground since President Joseph Kabila in April suspended military operations in both Nord-Kivu and Sud-Kivu provinces following a wave of desertions.