KINSHASA: Suspected rebels killed at least 30 civilians in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo late on Saturday, the army said, marking the deadliest massacre in the conflict-ravaged region this year.

Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a Ugandan Islamist militia that has operated in eastern Congo since the 1990s, attacked the village of Rwangoma, about 5 km (3 miles) south of the commercial hub of Beni around 7 pm local time (1700 GMT), said local army spokesman Mak Hazukay.

The ADF did not comment.