U.N. hears reports of DRC massacres

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KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- A U.N. special envoy to the Democratic Republic of Congo said the deteriorating security situation in the country was "extremely alarming."

The United Nations said it had evidence that civilians were massacred in North Kivu province since the beginning of August. Armed groups and rebels fighting in support of the M23 militia, which backed a mutiny in April, are accused of systematically targeting the civilian population.

"The deterioration of the overall security situation in North Kivu following the M23 mutiny and related ruthless attacks against civilians is extremely alarming," Roger Meece, U.N. special envoy to DRC, said in a statement.

Rebel Gen. Bosco Ntaganda is wanted by the International Criminal Court for allegedly conscripting child soldiers to fight in DRC.

The U.N. Stabilization Mission in DRC states at least 26 children were forced into fighting for M23 since April.

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, in a statement, said reports of "hundreds" of killings are coming in.

"The sheer viciousness of these murders is beyond comprehension," she said.