Burundi Rebel Bases Seized in New Offensive by U.N. and DRCongo

U.N. and Democratic Republic of Congo forces seized several rebel bases in an offensive launched Monday against a Burundi rebel group, the National Liberation Forces (FNL), the U.N. said.

A spokesman for the U.N.'s MONUSCO force in DRCongo said troops taking part in joint operations against FNL fighters in the east of the country had taken several Hutu rebel strongholds.

Lieutenant Colonel Felix-Prosper Basse said the bases were located near the Burundi border in South Kivu.

Previous attacks in Burundi's border region have been claimed by a splinter faction of the National Liberation Forces (FNL), whose full name is Party for the Liberation of the Hutu People.

The main body of FNL -- a highly disciplined group notorious for singing hymns as they carried out attacks -- signed a peace deal with the Burundian government in 2009 and have since become a political party.

The rebels who still fight on claimed responsibility for a string of attacks last year.