Ugandan govt. forces kill 11 rebels

The Ugandan government forces, Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF), have killed 11 rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) recently in northern Uganda, the New Vision newspaper reported Saturday.

It quoted eastern and northern based army spokesman, Paddy Ankunda, as saying that in separate battles in Lira, Pader and Kitgum districts the rebels were killed.

Ankunda said in another battle with the rebels in Gulu districtthe UPDF rescued 27 captives.

Meanwhile, UPDF spokesman Shaban Bantariza said UPDF has got information that Joseph Kony, head of the LRA, has ordered one of his army commanders to collect food in northern Uganda and send it to southern Sudan.

Last week the UPDF intercepted part of the food being sent to the rebels in southern Sudan, Bantariza said.

The Sudan-based LRA rebels have been fighting 18-year-old war to topple the Ugandan government dominated by southerners, and claiming to fight for the Acholi tribe.

But the rebel have killed tens of thousands of civilians, abducted over 20,000 children as their porters, fighters and sex slaves and displaced more than 1.5 million people, most of whom are from Acholi tribe.

Since March this year the Ugandan government forces have been pursuing the rebels in southern Sudan after securing a green lightfrom the Khartoum government.

Source: Xinhua