Kinshasa, Congo, March 2, SPA -- U.N. peacekeepers in northeasternCongo have killed as many as 60 militia members in avicious gun fight, a U.N. spokesman said Wednesday. The fire fight took place on Tuesday 30 kilometers (19miles) north of Bunia, the capital of the violent Ituriprovince, where nine peacekeepers were murdered Feb. 25 bymilitia in a well-executed ambush. "While on operation we were fired upon, so we immediatelyresponded," said Col. Dominique Demange, spokesman for theU.N. forces in Congo. Demange said the United Nations used an attack helicopterin the operation against the militia. He said between 50and 60 militia had been confirmed dead. The operation involved over 200 peacekeepers, twotransport helicopters and armored vehicles, said U.N.spokeswoman Eliane Nabaa.--SPA1306 Local Time 1006 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/243601