The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Thursday confirmed attacks on rebels who reportedly killed at least 42 civilians in the eastern province of North Kivu.

In a statement, the UN mission MONUSCO said its helicopters raided the Ugandan rebels ADF-NALU on Wednesday and regained control of the positions seized by rebels, who were linked to the killing of 42 civilians in the village of Kamango bordering Uganda.

"These people were killed by ADF-NALU helped by the M23, when the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) led an offensive against the ADF-NALU positions to Kamango," Mwiti Thomas, president of the civil society in North Kivu, told Xinhua on telephone.

"The bodies have not been found in mass graves, but these lifeless bodies were found in the toilet of the inhabitants of Kamango," he said, appealing for reinforcing the FARDC troops in the region.

Mwiti also disclosed that some people sought refuge in Uganda, but the Ugandan authorities refused to open the border.

On a separate occasion, the security authorities of North Kivu told Xinhua that FARDC on Thursday launched a severe operation against AFD-NALU around Kamango.

UN sources said at least 10 rebels were killed and several peacekeepers injured in the fighting.

The development dashed hope of a quick recovery from years of rebellion after the Congolese government and the major rebel group M23 signed a peace deal in the Kenyan capital Nairobi early this month.

North Kivu has been plagued by repeated rebellions and attacks by Rwandan and Ugandan rebels. Despite the deployment of MONUSCO and its intervention brigade in the troubled province, kidnappings and killings are reported occasionally, indicating the war-torn Central African country has a long way to go before seeing the restoration of peace and stability.