Reports from Rwanda say at least twenty people have been killed in renewed violence in the north-west of the country.

At least fifty people have been admitted to hospital over the past few days in Gisenyi, north-west of the capital, Kigali, suffering from machete wounds.

A UN official said the victims blamed Hutu rebels.

They said the rebels had attacked villagers -- most of whom were also Hutu -- to punish them for leaving rebel areas and returning to their homes in the Gisenyi area under the protection of government soldiers.