Hundreds thought killed in DRC church fire

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Rebel forces in Democratic Republic of the Congo set fire to a church, leaving hundreds of people to burn to death inside, an official says.

Felicien Balani, the civil society president for the village of Dungu, said last week's deadly fire at a church called Bima was caused by members of the Lord's Resistance Army, The New Vision (Uganda) reported Sunday.

"The LRA entered around midnight. They surprised the faithful of the church who were in a prayer vigil. They burned them in the church," Balani alleged regarding Saturday's fire.

After allegedly setting the fire, the guerrillas began brutally killing residents of the town of Tora and Libombi and two nearby mining communities, he said.

While only five deaths have been confirmed from the fire and ensuing attacks, the final death toll is thought to be in the hundreds, the report said.

The New Vision said the rebel group led by Joseph Kony has been responsible for 600 deaths since December 2008, Human Rights Watch reported.