Rebels kill four in northern Pader district

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

ARUA-- Four villagers were hacked to death and several others seriously wounded on Monday during an attack by rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the northern district of Pader, the army said.

"They used farm tools to kill four of them and left five others unconscious, thinking that they were dead," Lt Tabaro Kiconco, a Ugandan army spokesman based in the north, said.

He said the rebels had attacked a group of villagers who had gone to work in their gardens in Oryang village in Pader district, about 440 km north of the Ugandan capital, Kampala.

"Our troops were alerted of the attack by those who escaped. They managed to rush the injured to Kitgum hospital, where they are admitted," he added.

The spokesman said the assault was an act of revenge for the loss of six LRA combatants and several weapons on Sunday during a raid by the Ugandan army.