Kinshasa, Feb 19 (IANS): The United Nations Joint Human Rights Office has documented at least 411 cases of human rights violations in Congo in January, the agency said in a statement.

The figure represents an increase compared with the figure of the previous month when 347 violations were documented, Xinhua cited the agency as saying on Thursday.

The most affected provinces were those in the eastern part of the country such as North Kivu, Ituri and Haut Uele provinces.

According to the report, police, the army, intelligence services and other administrative officials were responsible for 274 violations that affected 468 victims.

And fighters of armed groups were responsible for 137 violations of human rights which left at least 265 victims.

The UN agency welcomed the imprisonment of 14 soldiers and six police officers last month, who engaged in acts that constitute violation of human rights.

It, however, expressed concern over the significant increase in the number of prison escapes, which rose to 119 people last month, and which occurred with complicity from prison guards.