NAIROBI - Zairean rebels were yesterday reported to have seized the strategic town of Kindu and refugees began to flee the biggest camp in eastern Zaire in fear of a rebel attack.

Mr Michele Quintaglie, a spokeswoman for the UN World Food Programme, said: "We have reports that refugee populations have started to move from Tingi Tingi (camp). We have advised our staff to return to Kisangani because of security concerns." About 170,000 Hutu refugees from Rwanda and Burundi settled at Tingi Tingi after moving westwards to escape the rebel advance that began last October.