Violent Life in Congo

After years of unrest, farmers in parts of eastern DR Congo only go to their fields in large groups. Some 100,000 people have fled their homes recently, with horrific tales of abuse.

These fishermen are on Lake Kivu, between eastern Congo and Rwanda, which has twice sent its troops across the border. Foreign troops have been attracted by Congo's vast reserves of gold, silver, diamonds, uranium and other precious minerals.

Despite a long-standing peace deal, successful recent elections and the presence of the world's largest peacekeeping operation, the situation remains precarious in the east.

A group of Hutu rebels from neighbouring Rwanda, the Interahamwe, were the biggest threat to civilian lives. But people say that even they are surpassed by the now notorious Bravo Brigade – a Congolese militia who refuse to be integrated into the national army.

They wear the uniforms of regular government soldiers but remain loyal to their own leader, Laurent Nkunda. He says his men are protecting Congo's Tutsi population against the Hutu rebels but they are accused of numerous atrocities.

They rape us, they loot and they shoot. There is no safety and we suffer so much," says a woman [not pictured]. Heal Africa is a clinic in Goma [pictured] for survivors of sexual attacks. Over 4,000 women have been treated here after brutal assaults, often by gangs.

Such violent rape can cause vaginal fistula – debilitating incontinence and severe pain because the walls between the vagina, the bladder and anus are torn. Sufferers are often shunned, so having the operation to heal their internal wounds is cause for celebration

The United Nations mandate in DR Congo is expected to be renewed until at least the end of the year but officials admit that nothing is guaranteed after that.

Minneapolis bridge

A day after the I-35W highway bridge collapsed in the US city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, rescue operations shifted to focus on recovery.

Cars were still perched precariously on various sections of the bridge as police said the recovery effort would be a long, slow process.

Cars were thrown on top of each other by the force of the bridge collapse. Investigators are treating the area as a crime scene until they determine a cause for the collapse.

Valued Exposure

Washing lines blowing in the wind at Butlin's Holiday camp at Skegness in Lincolnshire, 1955. Original Publication: Picture Post - 7941 - Butlin's Holiday Camp.