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Congolese rebels make new gains Congolese rebels make new gains
(about 3 hours later)
Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have seized control of another town, forcing government forces and residents to flee, the UN has said.Rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have seized control of another town, forcing government forces and residents to flee, the UN has said.
UN spokesman Lt-Col Jean Paul Dietrich said Gen Laurent Nkunda's troops had taken Nyanzale in North Kivu province, breaking the ceasefire he had declared.UN spokesman Lt-Col Jean Paul Dietrich said Gen Laurent Nkunda's troops had taken Nyanzale in North Kivu province, breaking the ceasefire he had declared.
Earlier, rebel forces entered nearby Kiwanja after two days of fighting and ordered about 35,000 people to leave. The UN is also investigating reports the rebels shot dead civilians in their homes after retaking nearby Kiwanja.
Meanwhile, Rwanda has blamed Congo's army and the UN for the crisis. UN soldiers and journalists have found at least a dozen corpses of men there.
Gen Nkunda's forces say they are trying to protect the Tutsi community against Hutu FDLR rebels who fled to DR Congo after the Rwandan genocide in 1994. name="text"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area name="top"> Residents told them that Gen Nkunda's forces had killed those they suspected of supporting a pro-government militia.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame - who denies accusations that his country has supported Gen Nkunda - has said a failure of leadership in his country's neighbour is to blame, saying both organisations had failed to disarm Rwandan Hutu militia. UN peacekeepers based nearby have been criticised for failing to intervene.
See detailed map of the area
Gen Nkunda says his troops are trying to protect the Tutsi community against Hutu guerrillas who fled to DR Congo after the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame has blamed the international community for failing to address what he says are the root causes of the crisis.
It's clear they are trying to have a territory completely under their control Lt-Col Jean Paul Dietrich UN spokesman Congo witness: 'I saw them die'Congolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advanceIt's clear they are trying to have a territory completely under their control Lt-Col Jean Paul Dietrich UN spokesman Congo witness: 'I saw them die'Congolese head home despite fearIn pictures: Rebel advance
He also said the international community had failed to act.
"What have they been there doing? What solution have they brought to the problem? What is the result of the $1bn they are spending every year?" he told the BBC."What have they been there doing? What solution have they brought to the problem? What is the result of the $1bn they are spending every year?" he told the BBC.
Mr Kagame is due to meet his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila at a summit on Friday in Kenya to be attended by UN chief Ban Ki-Moon. He said the real reason for the crisis was what he described as the weak leadership of the Congolese government, which had failed to disarm Hutu rebels.
The UN mission, Monuc, is been reinforcing its troops in the regional capital of North Kivu, Goma, and has warned that they will fire on any armed group trying to enter. Mr Kagame is due to meet his Congolese counterpart Joseph Kabila at a summit on Friday in Kenya to be attended by UN chief Ban Ki-moon.
The UN mission, Monuc, is reinforcing its troops in the regional capital of North Kivu, Goma, and has warned that they will fire on any armed group trying to enter the city.
Rebel 'advance'Rebel 'advance'
In the latest fighting, Gen Nkunda's CNDP entered and took control of the centre of the large town of Nyanzale, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Goma, Monuc spokesman Lt-Col Dietrich said.In the latest fighting, Gen Nkunda's CNDP entered and took control of the centre of the large town of Nyanzale, about 80km (50 miles) north-west of Goma, Monuc spokesman Lt-Col Dietrich said.
Gen Nkunda defends his military actions
During the fighting, the Congolese army evacuated their 15th brigade headquarters, he said, adding that the rebels were "breaking their own declared ceasefire".During the fighting, the Congolese army evacuated their 15th brigade headquarters, he said, adding that the rebels were "breaking their own declared ceasefire".
"It's clear they are trying to have a territory completely under their control," he told the Reuters news agency. It was difficult for our troops to fight where there is so many people, so they asked them to be out of the fire Gen Laurent Nkunda "It's clear they are trying to have a territory completely under their control," he told the Reuters news agency.
Correspondents say the town lies on the edge of territory controlled by members of the pro-Congolese government Hutu militia, the FDLR, who fled to DR Congo after the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Lt-Col Dietrich also said the UN had dispatched armoured personnel carriers to the nearby town of Kikuku, where the FDLR has been running its operations, to verify reports from local residents that it had also fallen to the rebels.
"Their mission is to stop the offensive," he told the AFP news agency. "These armoured cars have been sent to stop the rebel advance, with orders to fire if necessary."
Earlier, the rebels ordered thousands of people to leave their homes as they re-took control of the town of Kiwanja.Earlier, the rebels ordered thousands of people to leave their homes as they re-took control of the town of Kiwanja.
Witnesses reported killing and looting, and some people were wounded, a BBC correspondent who travelled to the town said.Witnesses reported killing and looting, and some people were wounded, a BBC correspondent who travelled to the town said.
Kinshasa threat Gen Nkunda told the BBC that residents had been told to move for their own safety so his troops could fight Pareco Mai-Mai forces, who he claims are backed by the Congolese government. He said people were now being allowed to return home.
Gen Nkunda told the BBC that residents had been told to move for their own safety so his troops could fight Pareco Mai-Mai forces, whom he claims are backed by the Congolese government. He said people were now being allowed to return home.
"Mai-Mai were in some houses in Kiwanja - it was difficult for our troops to fight where there is so many people, so they asked them to be out of the fire," he said."Mai-Mai were in some houses in Kiwanja - it was difficult for our troops to fight where there is so many people, so they asked them to be out of the fire," he said.
"It was only temporary; people are going back to their homes. Mai-Mai was shooting without taking care of the population," he added. Suspended aid
The rebel leader also dismissed the planned summit due to be held in Kenya on Friday. He said he had not been invited.Rebels ordered residents out of Kiwanja on Wednesday
The recent fighting has forced tens of thousands of people to travel south to Goma, which Gen Nkunda has threatened to attack - though a ceasefire around the city appears to be holding for now.The recent fighting has forced tens of thousands of people to travel south to Goma, which Gen Nkunda has threatened to attack - though a ceasefire around the city appears to be holding for now.
UN soldiers and journalists found at least a dozen corpses in Kiwanja
The offensive has also prompted some aid workers to suspend their activities a day after bringing in the first food convoy to rebel-held territory.The offensive has also prompted some aid workers to suspend their activities a day after bringing in the first food convoy to rebel-held territory.
The UN refugee agency has said three camps for displaced people near the town Rutshuru have been destroyed, and that it is trying to establish the fate of about 50,000 people who had been there.The UN refugee agency has said three camps for displaced people near the town Rutshuru have been destroyed, and that it is trying to establish the fate of about 50,000 people who had been there.
Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks.Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks.
He has said his forces are now free to pursue their offensive, accusing the government of breaking the ceasefire.He has said his forces are now free to pursue their offensive, accusing the government of breaking the ceasefire.
Correspondents say the militia involvement in the fighting makes any push for negotiations between Gen Nkunda and the government more complicated.Correspondents say the militia involvement in the fighting makes any push for negotiations between Gen Nkunda and the government more complicated.
The latest clashes sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack Goma - or target Masisi, a hub for Rwandan Hutu rebels west of Goma where aid workers have been evacuated and that is now surrounded by Gen Nkunda's men. The latest clashes sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack Goma.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Goma says the rebel threat against Kinshasa could be hubris, as it is hard to see how he could transport between 6,000 and 7,000 fighters all the way across a country the size of western Europe.The BBC's Peter Greste in Goma says the rebel threat against Kinshasa could be hubris, as it is hard to see how he could transport between 6,000 and 7,000 fighters all the way across a country the size of western Europe.
The rebel forces do, however, appear to have the strength to take Goma, he says.The rebel forces do, however, appear to have the strength to take Goma, he says.
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