Central African Republic says troops freed eight abductees

Central African Republic's defence ministry said Tuesday that troops backed by Russian allies freed eight people, including children, who had been abducted during an attack in the country's southeast.

Local authorities said one civilian was killed and 11 people were abducted in Friday's attack, which they blamed on the Lord's Resistance Army, founded by Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.

The defence ministry said the army operation took place Monday about 20 kilometres northeast of Madama-Zouma in Upper Mbomou. It said two attackers were neutralised, military equipment was impounded and troops were still pursuing suspected rebels. The ministry said no casualties were reported among the forces involved.

Upper-Ubangui regional governor Victor Bissekoin said such abductions had recently increased in the Central African Republic.

In a similar case, several local sources said at least 30 people were abducted on September 12 near Bangassou in the southeast, also blaming the Lord's Resistance Army.

The group was founded in Uganda in the late 1980s and is accused of abductions, murders and the forced recruitment of children. It was driven out of Uganda but remains active in remote areas of the Central African Republic.