Refugees fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo say army rebels who are fighting to overthrow President Laurent Kabila, have committed atrocities against civilians.

People from areas controlled by the rebels in the east of the country have spoken of young men being shot or villages raided for brutal reprisals.

Aid agencies fear that rebel patrols are now trying to stop frightened civilians from fleeing across Lake Tanganyika into Tanzania.

They say this means that people are forced to hide in the countryside instead, and that many may be starving.