Congo clashes force 10,000 refugees into Uganda

KAMPALA, Sept 4 (Reuters) Ten thousand Congolese refugees have fled to neighbouring Uganda following clashes between the Congolese army and renegade troops in its eastern provinces, the United Nations said today.

''The displaced said they were fleeing fighting between the government army and militia led by General Laurent Nkunda,'' the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a statement.

Congolese officials reported killing 28 soldiers loyal to Nkunda, a renegade army officer, in exchanges of machine gun and heavy weapons fire lasting several hours yesterday.

Refugees often flee violence in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, which has been a tinderbox for armed conflict since neighbours Rwanda and Uganda invaded in 1998, sparking a 5-year war that aid agencies say killed 3.8 million.

Many refugees return after a few days.

''With the prevailing insecurity in eastern DRC, such back and forth movements are likely to continue,'' UNHCR said, adding that it was organising shelter.

REUTERS PD PM1600