London  - United Nations peacekeepers have armed militia forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and been involved in the smuggling of gold and ivory, a BBC television programme claimed Monday.

The allegations, which the BBC said were based on confidential UN sources, had been "covered up" by the UN. Pakistani and Indian troops in the peacekeeping force had been involved.

According to the BBC Panorama programme, due to be screened later Monday, UN insiders said they had been prevented from investigating what went on for "political reasons."

The UN has 17,000 peacekeepers in the DRC.

Panorama said it found evidence that Pakistani peacekeepers in the eastern town of Mongbwalu were involved in the illegal trade in gold with the FNI militia, providing them with weapons to guard the perimeter of the mines.

Indian peacekeepers operating around the town of Goma had direct dealings with the militia responsible for the Rwandan genocide, now living in eastern Congo.

The Indians had traded gold, bought drugs from the militias and exchanged ammunition for ivory, it is claimed.

The UN said after investigations in 2007 that it could not substantiate allegations "in the absence of corroborative evidence" relating to the alleged arms trading and smuggling. (dpa)