Militia leader arrested in Congo

Security officials in Congo have arrested a Hema tribal warlord accused of atrocities in the conflict-riddled eastern part of the country.

A government official says Thomas Lubanga heads a party known as the Union of Congolese Patriots. He is in detention at a Kinshasa prison.

Lubanga's militias have clashed with Lendu rivals in the east giving rise to a virtually lawless state.

Fighters on both sides have been accused of murders, tortures, rape and forced labour.

For years, Lubanga has been feared in the regional capital. He is known for his flamboyance, including dancing on tabletops during news conferences, and travelling with a coterie of children some as young as 10 armed with Kalashnikovs.