Congo and Uganda troop shoot-out

By Adam Mynott
BBC East Africa correspondent

Lake Albert's troubled waters

Six people have been killed in an exchange of gunfire between troops from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the oil-rich Lake Albert.

Tension has been growing since the discovery of oil beneath the lake which borders both countries.

Disagreements over the precise border now have huge political and commercial significance.

The UN says shooting started after two Congolese soldiers refused to hand over weapons when challenged by Ugandans.

A spokesman for the United Nations peacekeeping operation in DR Congo says both sets of soldiers were on board boats on Lake Albert.

A number of people were injured.

Early in August a British oil engineer was shot and killed by Congolese soldiers on the lake.

Tension between Uganda and the DRC has escalated following the discovery of substantial quantities of oil beneath Lake Albert.

It appears a meeting between Congolese President Joseph Kabila and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, earlier this month has failed to achieve its objective of diffusing tensions.