UN Security Council demands "immediate end" to LRA attacks

The UN Security Council on Monday demanded "an immediate end to all attacks by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA)," and urged the armed group operating in four African countries to "release all those abducted, disarm and demobilize."

 In a presidential statement issued here, the 15-nation UN body "reiterates its strong condemnation of the appalling attacks and war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out by the LRA and its violation of international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights."


 "The council condemns further the LRA's recruitment and use of children in armed conflict, killing and maiming, rape, sexual slavery and other sexual violence, and abductions," the statement said.


 Classified among the terrorist groups by the United States, the LRA operates in four countries, namely Uganda, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.


 The group has been accused of committing some of the most heinous crimes against peoples of the four countries.  Its leader Joseph Kony and some of his close confidants are being sought after by the International Criminal Court for genocide and crimes against humanity.


 The UN and the African Union put together a joint mission to fight the rebels and the United States has also sent a team of 100 officers to support the operation to track down the rebel leaders.