KINSHASHA, Congo — A Congolese army spokesman says a deputy commander has been arrested for desecrating enemy corpses, one day after the UN voiced concern over reports of the practice.
Col. Olivier Hamuli said Lt. Solomo Bangala was arrested early Thursday evening in eastern Congo, where fighting between the army and the M23 rebel group has flared since Sunday. Government spokesman Lambert Mende confirmed the arrest.
Wednesday's U.N. statement said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was "deeply concerned" over the reports and called on Congo to bring the perpetrators to justice. It also said the peacekeeping mission in Congo was reviewing its support for army units suspected of being involved.
Earlier this year, the U.N. threatened to withdraw support for units accused of mass rapes in eastern Congo last November.
