Frank Nyakairu and Agencies
23 December 2007
Kampaa — The leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) peace delegation yesterday dismissed a confidential document currently circulating diplomatic circles that details the manner in which the rebels' former second-in-command was killed as a fabrication.
LRA's Vincent Otti was reportedly executed by fellow officers, the diplomatic briefing has claimed.
The confidential document, shown to the BBC on condition of anonymity, says Mr Otti was shot dead on October 2 at the home of LRA leader, Joseph Kony.
The LRA has previously insisted Mr Otti was alive and under house arrest.
Mr Otti is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes arising from the LRA's 20-year insurgency.
But peace negotiator Martin Ojul yesterday told Sunday Monitor in a telephone interview from Juba, South Sudan that: "That is the common report which is completely fabricated and untrue based on the lies of Otto. We have no doubt to believe what Kony himself is saying. We are travelling to Garamba tomorrow, we will see what we shall find."
"I am warning all those who are against the peace process in Juba to stop this hostile propaganda," Mr Ojul said.
The briefing, based on witness testimony, says Mr Otti arrived at Mr Kony's home only to find it surrounded by the leader's personal guards.
Sensing that something was wrong, Mr Otti phoned his boss, but was reassured that all was well. When he went inside the house, Mr Otti was met by a group of senior commanders.
One of the commanders stood up and pointed a pistol at Mr Otti, saying he was now under arrest, the briefing says.
The others followed his lead and Mr Otti was stripped of his shirt, bound and blindfolded. He reportedly began crying, asking what he had done wrong.
Mr Otti was led from the house, and was shot while begging for his life. Later Mr Kony appeared, and told the assembled rebel officers that he would not tolerate indiscipline, it says.
The rebel leader apparently told his followers that Mr Otti had been attempting to kill him after receiving foreign funds.
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