LRA rebels yesterday held a rally at Ayoro parish, Minakulu, about 40 km from Gulu on Gulu-Kampala road.

According to an eyewitness, the rebels assured them that they were no longer going to attack civilians or UPDF but were ready for peace talks with the government.

He said that the rally was peaceful and very many civilians turned up and the rebels asked for food, which they were given. He said they later moved to Congo Primary School in Kulu-Abura parish where they cooked food before dispersing.

The rebels estimated to be 200 divided into three groups while others moved towards Zamba, north west of Kamdini, Aber sub county in Apac.

He also said they did not take any abductees. One abductee who moved with them from Pader escaped and reported to UPDF detach at Minakulu trading centre.

UPDF Division 4 spokesman Lt. Paddy Ankunda said he was not aware of the rally.

He appealed to the civilians not to respond to the rebels whenever they called rallies.

"People should not attend to this terrorists. They will kill them and abduct them in large numbers," he said.

He appealed to the rebels to accept amnesty law and come out of the bush or else they are ready to fight them.

He also confirmed that two LRA rebels Aug. 27 reported to the army at Ngeta in Lira.