Armed rebels have attacked a village in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo killing six people, and there are fears that dozens of others were abducted.

A Congolese military spokesman blamed Wednesday's attack in Ituri Province's Tshabi village on the Allied Democratic Front (ADF)—a rebel group that originated in Uganda.

Congolese soldiers are reported to have fought the rebels for more than an hour.

A spokesman said five of the attackers were killed and one soldier died.

A traditional chief in the area says 30 people from the village are still missing and are feared to have been kidnapped by the rebels, who also looted 100 cattle.