Nine people have been killed in their sleep by the rebels of the self-proclaimed LRA (lord's Resistance Army) in Agak, Aromo subcounty, roughly 30 kilometres north of the city of Lira, in north Uganda. The news comes from MISNA sources, according to whom the attack took place on Monday evening. A group of civilians were reportedly sleeping in huts in Teoburu, under the protection of soldiers of the Ugandan army. The rebels managed to enter the dwellings nonetheless, murdering nine. In the same area, the militias of LRA set fire to numerous huts previously abandoned by their inhabitants in fear of further raids. An army commander confirmed to MISNA that several huts had been set on fire. Yesterday, Father Ferdinando Moroni, in charge of the parish of Ngetta, not far from Lira, journeyed to Akangi, roughly ten kilometres from the district capital, to find the area completely deserted. Only after recognising the priest did some of the inhabitants come out of their hiding places, reporting that the rebels had stolen cattle. Incidences of theft of animals have been reported in the same area and attributed to the Karimojong guerrillas, who are traditionally active in northeast Uganda. MISNA report that the local population are incredulous that not one but two rebel groups are free to circulate in an area in which President Yoweri Museveni established his provisional military headquarters just a few weeks ago. The Head of State is camped in Okwang, 40 kilometres northeast of Lira, where he is co-ordinating army operations in the attempt to stem the LRA armed gangs, so far with few results. On 22 February, over 250 people were massacred in a refugee camp not far from the city of Lira.[LC]

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