UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The United Nations says preliminary investigations by the U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo indicate that Congolese army soldiers committed rapes, looting and other human rights violations after retreating from the key city of Goma following its capture by M23 rebels.

U.N. deputy spokesman Eduardo del Buey said Friday that the violations took place in the Minova area, about 60 kilometers (40 miles) south of Goma.

The U.N. mission has expressed serious concern to Congolese authorities and has been working to make medical assistance available to survivors of sexual violence in health centers in the Minova area, he said.

Since June, Del Buey said, the U.N. mission has also received allegations of serious rights violations by elements of the M23 including killings, rape and looting in Goma and neighboring areas.

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