GENEVA, Switzerland, June 19 (UPI) -- Violence carried about by mutineers fighting government forces in DRC is appalling, the top human rights official at the United Nations said.
Mutineers with the M23 movement are fighting forces from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the northern provinces of the country.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay expressed frustration with atrocities allegedly committed by rebel forces.
"The leaders of the M23 figure among the worst perpetrators of human rights violations in the DRC, or in the world for that matter," she said in a statement. "Many of them have appalling track records including allegations of involvement in mass rape and of responsibility for massacres and for the recruitment and use of children."
Pillay said many of the mutineers are likely responsible for war crimes. Rebel Gen. Bosco Ntaganda, who led the April mutiny, is wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.
"Every effort must be made to hold these men, and the soldiers under their command, accountable for human rights violations committed against civilians -- both for crimes committed within the context of the current mutiny, and also for offenses committed previously," said Pillay.
