KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, March 25 (UPI) -- A contingent of 245 Mayi-Mayi rebels who surrendered to U.N. peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo were delivered to authorities in Kinshasa Monday.
The U.N. peacekeeping mission in the Congo said the rebels turned over their weapons to the peacekeepers this past weekend following an earlier battle, the United Nations said in a release.
"The Mayi-Mayi elements arrived at the MONUSCO compound at around [1:30 p.m.] local time on Saturday after being repelled by government troops, following a surprise attack against government institutions in Lubumbashi," U.N. officials in New York said.
Local non-governmental organizations estimated at least 35 people, including civilians, died in the fighting in the city. Sixteen other combatants were hospitalized with wounds.
MONUSCO officials welcomed the subsequent "peaceful surrender" of the combatants.
The U.N. Children's Fund identified and separated 40 children among the rebels and sent them back to their families.
