Ethnic clashes in eastern Congo kill at least 40 - official

Internally displaced Congolese women walks with her belongings along the shore line of lake Albert after spending the night out in the lake for safety [John Wessels, AFP]

At least 40 people have been killed in the last 48 hours in ethnic violence in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo between Hema cattle herders and Lendu farmers, a local official said on Tuesday.

Fighting between the two groups instigated by Lendu-dominated militia has killed dozens since December. Tensions between Hema and Lendu had mostly laid dormant since a 1999-2007 conflict in which tens of thousands of people died.