UN Investigates Goma Protest Deaths

{{The UN has opened an investigation into reports that its troops killed two Congolese civilians during protests in the eastern city of Goma, amid fighting with rebels.}}

Eyewitnesses told media the two died on Saturday when a crowd tried to storm a UN base and said troops from Uruguay had opened fire.

Uruguay has denied the allegations and blamed the Congolese police.

A new UN intervention brigade is deploying to the area to tackle rebels.

UN troops last week shelled rebel positions just outside Goma.

There has been no official statement on how many people have died in the fighting.

One local doctor has told media he had seen 82 dead bodies, including those of 23 government soldiers on Sunday.

“I’m overwhelmed by what I’ve seen: bodies blown apart, arms and feet here and there,” said Isaac Warwanamiza, speaking from a hospital north of Goma.

Many Congolese accuse the 18,000-strong UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo of not doing enough to end two decades of conflict in the east of the country.

{wirestory}