A United Nations report has criticised the government of President Laurent Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo for severe human rights violations.

The UN investigator, Roberto Garreton of Chile, says the authorities have adopted an ethnic cleansing approach in efforts to quash an insurgency involving Tutsis and other groups, and he expresses particular concern over government incitement to hatred of the Tutsis.

The report also accuses the rebels of abuses.

It reiterates an earlier call for alleged war crimes in the Congo to be dealt with by an international tribunal.

Relations between the UN and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been strained since an earlier investigation was called off because of what the UN said was a total lack of co-operation from the authorities.