Armed convoy to aid Congolese

UN peacekeepers will be deployed to guard the convoy

The United Nations has dispatched a guarded humanitarian convoy into remote, dangerous parts of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

UN spokesman Sebastien Lapierre said helicopter gunships are guarding 12 trucks that left Bukavu to aid civilians in the area.

Mr Lapierre has said it might take months to deliver the relief supplies to some 30,000 people in the mountainous areas of Mwenga.

The war in DR Congo officially ended last July but parts of the east remains insecure.

"This is the biggest humanitarian convoy to take place in the area in recent years," the UN spokesman told Reuters news agency.

Extremist Hutus

The UN convoy organised by Caritas Development International will supply 258 tonnes of food and other goods to affected civilians.

Some 100 UN troops will be deployed during the operation to guard a total of 36 trucks from possible attacks by various militias active in the area.

"We want to increase our overall presence in the remote parts of south Kivu province to help stabilise the situation," Mr Lapierre said.

The United Nations will also install radio transmitters at high points along the route to spread the message that the war is over and that militia groups should disarm and return to civilian life.

Extremist Hutu militiamen who fled the 1994 Rwandan genocide still pose a major threat to stability in eastern DR Congo.

Some have recently returned to Rwanda but earlier this month a UN official accused hardliners of preventing others from going home.