1,300 civilians killed in DRC violence

About 1,300 civilians have been killed in separate conflicts involving armed groups and government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) over the past eight months, with the violence forcing more than half a million people from their homes, the United Nations has said, reports Al Jazeera.

UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet warned on Friday some of the killings and displacement "may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes".

The number of victims has soared in recent weeks as conflicts have spreadin three eastern provinces - Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu -  "with disastrous repercussions" for the civilian population, according to the UN.

"I am appalled by the increase in brutal attacks on innocent civilians by armed groups, and by the reaction of the military and security forces who have also committed grave violations, including killings and sexual violence," Bachelet said in a statement.

"These are not only reprehensible and criminal acts, but they also break the trust between people and the state representatives, both security and political," she added.

"In the absence of effective protection by state security forces, there is a serious risk that these communities will feel compelled to form self-defence groups, which would most likely exacerbate an already dire situation," Bachelet said.