Zairean rebels take eastern town - refugees

[Reuters]

KASESE, Uganda (Reuter) - Zairean rebels captured the
eastern Zairean town of Bunia, forcing looting and rampaging
Zairean soldiers to flee northwards, Ugandan military sources
and refugees arriving in this border town said Tuesday.
The military sources said Bunia fell Monday night after
heavy fighting and Zairean rebels were Tuesday clearing a few
pockets of resistance.
``Bunia has fallen to the Zairian rebels. That is our
understanding of the situation there,'' a Ugandan military
source said.
Zairian refugees among some 3,000 refugees who arrived in
Kasese after fleeing the latest fighting said Zairean soldiers
looted Bunia, beat up residents and raped many women before the
town fell into rebels hands Monday night.
``The Banyamulenge (rebels) have taken over Bunia. Zairean
soldiers have fled from the area and we do not known where they
have gone,'' a refugee who arrived in Kasese Tuesday said.
``We chose to come to Uganda because Zairian soldiers are
looting and raping as they flee the Banyamulenge,'' she added
Africa's latest conflict was ignited by Zairian attempts to
expel the Banyamulenge -- an ethnic Tutsi group which came to
Zaire from Rwanda up to 200 years ago.