UN helicopters fire rockets at east Congo militias

UN helicopter gunships fired rockets and machine guns at militiamen who attacked them on Thursday, as they patrolled the skies over eastern Congo's troubled Ituri province. UN peacekeeping spokesman Madnoge Mounoubay said two UN helicopters were conducting an aerial reconnaissance mission Thursday near the village of Kagaba when ground-based militiamen opened fire. Madnoge said no peacekeepers were wounded in the incident and the helicopters landed safely, though bullets struck one of the choppers.