- Uganda's main militant group, Lord's Resistance Army has refuted media claims that it has attacked and abducted children in Democratic Republic of Congo and south Sudan.
Earlier this week, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) demanded immediate release of 90 schoolchildren that were said LRA had abducted in DRC the previous week.
Rebel spokesperson David Nyekorach-Matsanga said current media reports were malicious and meant to derail peace talks LRA is undergoing with Ugandan government.
UNICEF had also accused LRA of killing villagers and abducting two Italian missionaries in north-east of the sprawling nation, which borders Uganda.
Mr Nyekorach-Matsanga, said that there were many other armed militias operating in both DRC and south Sudan, saying malicious reports should be cross-checked before blame could be laid on LRA.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the two decades civil war between LRA and Ugandan government.
LRA, which is now based in forests in north-east DRC, began peace talks to end its bloody rebellion two years ago. However, it is yet to sign a final peace deal and is believed to have been using time to rearm.
LRA leader Joseph Kony, had said he will only sign peace deal if International Criminal Court removes indictments it slapped on him and four other LRA members for war crimes.
Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Refugees said around 1,700 people have escaped violence in eastern DRC to seek refuge in neighbouring Uganda.
"Most people are spending the day at their homes in the DRC and then crossing into Uganda to sleep at night," Kampala-based UNHCR spokeswoman Roberta Russo told AFP.
Eastern DR Congo has become increasingly unstable in recent weeks following an escalation of clashes between government forces and renegade general Laurent Nkunda.
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