Seven peacekeepers were killed and 10 others were wounded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, during a joint military operation with troops against rebels in the eastern part of the country.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said six peacekeepers from Malawi and one from Tanzania were killed during the operation on Wednesday against rebels of the Allied Democratic Forces a rebel group blamed for a series of attacks. He said  another peacekeeper is missing from the fighting near the city of Beni in North Kivu.  Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the killing  and called on armed groups to disarm immediately