The death toll resulting from three weeks of witch killings in the north eastern DR Congo district of Aru has claimed at least 392 lives and left 243 people displaced.

Maj. Bule Ebangolo Basabe, the governor of Ituri province in the DR Congo, has ordered the deployment of more Congolese rebel troops to police the north eastern district. The administration of northeastern Congo falls under rebel leader Jean Pierre Bemba.

Bule told The New Vision on Monday in Aru town that "since my arrival yesterday, I've held marathon meetings with the local authorities and ordered more patrols in the disturbed areas. I also went on air on the local FM station (Radio Maison Ocean) to sensitise the people. I told them it was illegal to kill or banish people," he said.

Bule said he had come with a team of magistrates from Bunia to speed up the judicial process of prosecuting those implicated in the killings. Meanwhile, the 409 Brigade intelligence officer, Capt. Opio, said a UPDF medical officer, Staff Sgt. Aporu, has been assigned to help the sick and wounded among the displaced persons.