Fear of disease outbreak

Residents of Uvira in eastern Congo expressed concerns Friday that decomposing bodies might spread disease after authorities said 171 bodies were found in mass graves following the withdrawal of M23 rebels from the city. The governor of South-Kivu province, Jean-Jacques Purusi, said Thursday the dead bodies were found in two mass graves on the outskirts of the major city and blamed the rebels for the deaths. The Associated Press could not independently verify the claims. An M23 spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Purusi said the victims would be buried only after medical examiners complete the required procedures and that the site should not be disturbed in the meantime. Flavien Kalenga Mutumishi, who lives near one of the graves, said that he and several other residents discovered about a dozen decomposing bodies.