*DRC troops in looting, shooting spree* 24 Nov 2008 *Sapa-AP* KIBATI (Democratic Republic of Congo) — Soldiers went on an overnight looting and shooting spree in a sprawling refugee camp, stealing from hungry and traumatised people who have fled fighting in the east of the DRC, witnesses said yesterday.
They said one woman was killed by a stray bullet Sunday night when soldiers went house-to-house and tent-to-tent in Kibati, a village north of the eastern provincial capital of Goma that has been overrun by about 70 000 refugees. The soldiers demanded money at gunpoint and stole people's few possessions — many of which had been donated by aid agencies, the witnesses said. The people taking refuge are among some 250 000 who have been driven from their homes by fighting stemming from a rebellion that escalated in August. Patrice Sebahunde said he was awakened at 10 pm by four soldiers pointing guns in his face. They took his family's food, clothes and their plastic water bucket. "They came up, pointed a gun at me, and said, 'Wake up, wake up, give us money and everything you have,"' said Sebahunde (60). Sebahunde and several other witnesses said the soldiers shot in the air, and that a stray bullet hit a 45-year-old woman in the head, killing her. A 20-year-old woman was killed at Kibati on Thursday when soldiers shot in the air and a bullet pierced her tent and hit her in the head. UN refugee officials, who had reported Thursday's shooting, said they had no information about any violence on Sunday. "Shooting is not something you can easily hide," said spokesman David Nthegwe. "Our information on the ground last night says there was no looting and nobody was killed." But at least 10 witnesses who spoke to Associated Press told the same story.
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