ARMED dissidents ambushed and killed 63 people two days ago near Kinkala, the Pool regional headquarters, 75 km south of Brazzaville in the Congo, it was revealed on Saturday. The Congolese military spokesman, Colonel Jean-Robert Obargui, said three soldiers and children were among those who died in the ambush by the Ninja militiamen of former prime minister Bernard Kolelas. He said the victims were travelling aboard a military vehicle that was returning to Brazzaville after it had taken food to troops based in the Pool area. The Ninjas have been actively battling government troops and their Angolan allies in the area for the past three weeks. Between 9 and 12 May, the guerrillas killed 100 people and burnt 50 houses in Massengo, Kombo and Moukondo districts, south-west of Brazzaville.