Congo's bishops have said Catholics are facing a new wave of violence following the collapse of a Church mediation plan, and in some places Church leaders have fled to the forest.
In late March, the bishops abandoned attempts to arrange a government-opposition power-sharing settlement and, within days, violence erupted in eastern Congo.
"The militias are continuing their macabre operations – each passing day sees new killings and burning of religious buildings," said a statement on the bishops' conference website.
