Armed militants killed more than 35 civilians in an attack on a cluster of villages in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a village chief and a lawmaker said on Tuesday, with a search for more bodies expected to lift the eventual death toll sharply.

Authorities say militia fighters in northeastern Congo have killed at least 55 civilians in an attack on a cluster of villages and a camp for displaced people camp

The head of the Djaiba group of villages in Djugu territory, Jean Vianney, on Tuesday said armed militants killed no fewer than 35 civilians during an attack on a cluster of villages in Ituri province,