The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), known as MONUC, declared on Monday the start of military operations against Rwandan Hutu rebels in the DRC's forests.

General Cheikh Gueye, commander of the MONUC, told Xinhua that the operations aim to expel from the regions of Walungu and Kabare Rwandan rebels who recently have frequently attacked Congolese civilians.

A total of 400 MONUC troops and DRC soldiers are taking part in the mission.

Thierry Provendier, spokesman of the MONUC, warned that if UN peacekeepers are attacked by Rwandan rebels, they would return fire.

He said Hutu rebels have no right to carry weapons on DRC territory.

The Hutu rebels fled to neighboring DRC after being chased out of Rwanda following the 1994 genocide that left more than 800,000 people dead, most of them minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

(Xinhua News Agency July 5, 2005)