At least thirty civilians, for the most part women and children, were killed in an incursion and other violent actions between the 10th and 11th of November by Ugandan soldiers near Butuhe (around 10km north-west of Butembo, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo). The news, which confirms the growing insecurity in North Kivu, was released yesterday by civil society sources (who will remain anonymous). The episode began with an ambush carried out near Butuhe by the Mayi-Mayi (Congolese nationalist partisans) against a convoy of Ugandan soldiers, that control the province within the Anti-Congolese President Laurent Désiré Kabila forces. The Mayi-Mayi managed to sequester a truck transporting a supply of "coltan" (a mineral made of tantalum and colombium used for the ogive of missiles) with a value of around US$70-thousand. The reinforcements sent by the Kampala troops to recuperate the "coltan", extracted from local mines, instead of following the Mayi-Mayi attacked the village of Kikere (near Butuhe) with missiles and hand grenades during a wedding ceremony. Fifteen of the guests were killed in the attack: including 4-year-old Kule, 10-year-old Aldegonde, three 11-year-olds, one 12-year-old and one local leader, Jean-Pierre Mastaajabu. Another twelve people (10 identified so far) burned to death in a nearby house, set on fire by the soldiers. The tragic death toll also included another two people who were tortured to death: identified as Ndungo and Stephanie. During the same incursion 10 civilians, including two children and a newborn, were captured and brought to the Rughenda military camp, in the area of the airport of Butembo. The group of civilians included two entire families: the wives were tortured and beaten, while there is no trace of the husbands. The women and children were freed shortly after their abduction thanks to the prompt intervention of the local population which guaranteed their extraneousness to the Mayi-Mayi phenomenon. (BO)