Ugandan army says 10,000 refugees flee Congo

KAMPALA, Aug 22 (Reuters) Some 10,000 Congolese have fled into Uganda fearing fresh fighting in their own country after a protest organised by a renegade general turned violent, the Ugandan army said today.

A Ugandan military spokesman said the refugees feared renewed clashes between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) troops and forces loyal to General Laurent Nkunda after Nkunda organised an anti-UN demonstration that turned into a riot.

''Approximately 10,000 people have come from the Congolese side fearing renewed violence ... local district authorities and aid organisations are trying to help them,'' said Uganda's army spokesman for western Uganda, Lieutenant Tabaro Kiconco.

Kiconco said the refugees told officials in Uganda's Kisoro District that they expected more fighting after villagers, urged on by Nkunda's men, rioted yesterday in protest against UN troops they said failed to protect them from militias.

DRC officials were not immediately available for comment.

Mineral-rich eastern DRC has remained a tinderbox of violence roamed by a myriad of militia groups and bandits since a 1988-2003 war sucked in six regional countries.

REUTERS GT BD2224