Eight killed in LRA attack

Rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) killed eight people on Monday during an ambush on a truck in Mucwini, Kitgum district, in the north of the country, according to the Ugandan army. The eight were reportedly killed instantly when the LRA hit the truck with a rocket propelled grenade. A commander of the Ugandan People's Defence Force (UPDF), Paddy Ankunda, told IRIN he was disappointed by the attack, which came a day after President Yoweri Museveni extended a truce for five days, to allow talks to take place between the government peace team and the rebels. "If they continue committing their atrocities of abducting, killing and looting we shall have no option but to come out and defend the population which is one of our duties," he said. On Sunday, the rebels also looted merchandise and property in Buyatira trading centre, in Gulu district, but no injuries were reported. A spokesman for the Acholi Religious leaders, Lam Cosmos, said it was possible that acts of indiscipline by the LRA would continue and people should not expect the atrocities to stop instantly, the BBC reported. Cosmos added that the priority was still to nurture the peace process and build trust between the two sides. Two recent attempts to hold face-to-face talks between the government team and LRA representatives have failed.