A human-rights group has said that at least 11 civilians and possibly more than 40 were killed in the Democratic Republic of Congo in an army operation in Equateur.

The BBC has reported that Asadho, the African Association for the Defense of Human Rights, said nine of the confirmed dead at the airport in Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur province, had been taken prisoner. They were allegedly killed after being accused of being rebels.

It was further reported that the army, with help from U. N. peacekeepers, retook the airport on April 5. Two U. N. staff members died in the operation.

Officials will investigate the killings if Asadho supplies the names of the victims, a government spokesman told the BBC.

It was also noted by the reports that some soldiers have already been charged with looting in Mbandaka, and one officer has received a death sentence for looting U. N. facilities at the airport. (With Inputs from Agencies)