Civilians victims of "confusing war"

A "climate of hatred" persisted in the DRC, where most victims of the "intense and confusing" war were civilians, including children and babies, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the DRC, Roberto Garreton, said last week. Presenting his report to the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva on 1 April, Garreton said the government had to "acknowledge reality" in that the rebels did exist and respect the wishes of the people for the establishment of democracy. Garreton also told the Commission that the rebels would never have widespread popular backing, a UN press release said. Garreton said human rights violations were committed by government forces and their allies, the rebel movement and "foreign rebel forces" from Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda, the release said. Garreton recommended that those responsible for gross human rights abuses in the DRC be tried in an international criminal tribunal.