BBC News Online: World: Africa

Grenade attack on Goma churchgoers

A grenade attack on the congregation of a Roman Catholic church in the eastern DR Congo town of Goma has left three people dead, including a priest, and 10 wounded.

The attack looks set to present a further setback to the latest round of peace talks on Congo.

The grenade was tossed into a Catholic congregation celebrating an open-air Mass late on Sunday morning.

Officials with RCD-Goma - the rebel group which administers this region of Congo - said that another priest was among those wounded.

The attack happened just as the bishop arrived to celebrate the Mass and the service continued even as the wounded were taken away to hospital.

So far there is no information as to the identity of the attackers or their motivation.

'Politically motivated'

Four suspects who were among the congregation have been taken in for questioning.

Bizima Karaha, security chief with the RCD-Goma rebels, said he believed the attack was politically motivated, and that it was destined to further derail the peace talks on Congo taking place in the South African resort of Sun City.

Mr Karaha pointed to a similar attack two years ago in Bukavu - another town under the administration of the RCD Goma faction.

He said that attack had been carried out by people well connected to the Kinshasa Government.