Ugandan LRA deserters say Kony executed deputy

KAMPALA - A group of Ugandan from Uganda's notorious Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) said on Friday the rebels' leader Joseph Kony had executed his deputy Vincent Otti, who had been instrumental in peace talks.

"What you should know is that Kony ordered for Otti's execution on the 2nd of October," former LRA commander Sunday Otto told reporters, speaking on behalf of seven rebels flown to Kampala after handing themselves in to U.N. peacekeepers.

Rumours of Otti's death have circulated for weeks in Uganda, with various rebel and mediator sources saying he had been arrested by Kony, who for two decades has been leading the LRA rebellion in north Uganda.

Until Friday, no credible source had offered confirmation of the speculation that Otti was dead.

"I will not go into details about Otti's death," the deserter Otto added. A mediator in the peace process had said Kony punished Otti for allegations of spying.

Otto said he did not witness the execution, but Kony had told him personally about it via satellite phone between their hideouts in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

"Then Kony later called me and my colleague Odong Richard justifying Otti's execution," he said.