Ugandan army resumes offensive against LRA rebels

GULU, Uganda, Oct 4: The Ugandan army said today it had resumed operations to hunt down Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels in northern Uganda despite peace talks aimed at ending one of Africa's worst wars.

An army spokesman insisted the offensive should not hinder negotiations between the two sides going on in south Sudan.

''Following the expiry of the cessation of hostilities requiring the rebels to assemble, we have resumed operations against LRA remnants in northern Uganda,'' army spokesman Major Felix Kulayigye told Reuters.

He said any LRA fighters in northern Uganda who had failed to assemble at two locations under a truce that expired on September 19 would be ''dealt with militarily''.

''This has nothing to do with the peace process which should continue,'' Kulayigye added.

The LRA launched one of the world's most brutal insurrections from northern Uganda 20 years ago before moving to southern Sudan and lately hiding in the jungles of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Talks between Ugandan government negotiators and LRA representatives to end the conflict have been marred by deadlock, walk-outs and heated rhetoric.

Reuters