LUSAKA, Oct. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- About 3,000 refugees have crossed into Zambia to flee insurgency at Kilwa, a mining town in southeast the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the officialZambia Daily Mail reported Monday.

    Kennedy Sakeni, deputy minister of Luapula Province that sharesa border with the DRC, was quoted as saying that Zambian immigration and security personnel have been deployed in the area to screen all refugees.

    An armed group known as the Liberation Movement took over Kilwalast Friday, but soldiers loyal to Joseph Kabila's government havesince recaptured it, according to media reports.

    Sakeni said the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Red Cross have already taken over the responsibility of looking after the refugees.

    Zambian Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Peter Mumba said earlier that the Congolese will be sent into refugee camps once the screening is completed. Enditem