The United Nations said today it had found another 30 decomposing and mutilated bodies in the east Congo town of Bunia.
The discovery brings the death toll from days of fighting between tribal militias to more than 300.
The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) said many of the corpses had body parts missing. Rumours of militia cannibalism have been circulating around the town, but MONUC said it was not possible to know how the bodies were mutilated.
A MONUC spokesman said: "Many of the bodies have had parts ripped out but it is difficult to say whether this is cannibal-style atrocities or not, as there are a lot of dogs who have been eating the bodies".
The UN has called for an emergency peacekeeping force in the region, where militiamen, often drugged, have been fighting with machetes, guns and bows and arrows. A small UN force there lacks the mandate to intervene.
There has been no major fighting in Bunia in recent days, but the atmosphere remains tense. Tens of thousands fled their homes when the violence began earlier this month, and many are in desperate need of food and water.
Britain, France and South Africa have said they would consider sending troops.