KISANGANI Congo (Reuters) - U.N. peacekeepers began leaving the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday as part of a small but symbolic troop reduction before the 50th anniversary of the country's independence on June 30.

More than 100 of a 458-strong battalion of Senegalese troops stationed in the east of the country with the U.N. mission MONUC were the first to leave after a 15-month tour, with the rest due to follow by the end of the month.