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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UN battles dissidents in DR Congo | UN battles dissidents in DR Congo |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A UN helicopter gunship has fired on troops loyal to a dissident general to halt their advance towards Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. | A UN helicopter gunship has fired on troops loyal to a dissident general to halt their advance towards Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| Earlier the followers of renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda took control of parts of Sake, close to the Rwandan border, after attacking army positions. | Earlier the followers of renegade Gen Laurent Nkunda took control of parts of Sake, close to the Rwandan border, after attacking army positions. |
| Thousands of civilians fled their homes in the town. Casualties are unclear. | Thousands of civilians fled their homes in the town. Casualties are unclear. |
| The clashes are the most serious in the east since DR Congo's first elections were held earlier this year. | The clashes are the most serious in the east since DR Congo's first elections were held earlier this year. |
| Tension is already high in the capital, Kinshasa, where the Supreme Court is due to deliver its verdict on the legal challenge to last month's presidential run-off election brought by the former rebel leader and current Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba. | Tension is already high in the capital, Kinshasa, where the Supreme Court is due to deliver its verdict on the legal challenge to last month's presidential run-off election brought by the former rebel leader and current Vice-President Jean-Pierre Bemba. |
| In his appeal, Mr Bemba said the results that gave victory to President Joseph Kabila did not reflect the reality at the ballot box. | In his appeal, Mr Bemba said the results that gave victory to President Joseph Kabila did not reflect the reality at the ballot box. |
| Rebels 'repulsed' | Rebels 'repulsed' |
| United Nations forces said their helicopters and peacekeepers opened fire against the dissidents after being attacked in and around the volatile eastern town of Sake. | United Nations forces said their helicopters and peacekeepers opened fire against the dissidents after being attacked in and around the volatile eastern town of Sake. |
| "Monuc troops were threatened by effective fire by 81st and 83rd brigades," said Monuc military spokesman Major Ajay Dalal. | "Monuc troops were threatened by effective fire by 81st and 83rd brigades," said Monuc military spokesman Major Ajay Dalal. |
| "Attack helicopters fired on 81st and 83rd soldiers [dissidents loyal to Gen Nkunda] in Sake and a few kilometres east in Kasingazi | "Attack helicopters fired on 81st and 83rd soldiers [dissidents loyal to Gen Nkunda] in Sake and a few kilometres east in Kasingazi |
| "Ground troops have also opened fire on both fronts." | "Ground troops have also opened fire on both fronts." |
| At least eight soldiers are reported to have been killed in the attacks by the dissidents on Sake and eight rebels killed. | |
| The dissident troops used machine-guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. | The dissident troops used machine-guns, mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. |
| Sake is a small town about 25km (15 miles) west of the provincial capital of Goma. | Sake is a small town about 25km (15 miles) west of the provincial capital of Goma. |
| Mr Nkunda left the army and launched his own low-level rebellion after DR Congo's war ended, saying that the country's transition to democracy was flawed and had excluded the minority Tutsi community. | Mr Nkunda left the army and launched his own low-level rebellion after DR Congo's war ended, saying that the country's transition to democracy was flawed and had excluded the minority Tutsi community. |