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DR Congo clashes: '150 M23 rebels killed' near Goma | DR Congo clashes: '150 M23 rebels killed' near Goma |
(about 1 hour later) | |
More than 150 rebels have been killed in fighting with government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the regional governor has told the BBC. | |
Julien Paluku said the fighting was continuing on Friday morning near the main regional city, Goma. | |
Mr Paluku said the city would not fall, despite rebel claims to be on the verge of capturing the city. | |
The fighting is the most serious since July in the mostly lawless but resource-rich eastern DR Congo. | |
Nearly 500,000 people have fled their homes since April when the rebels mutinied from the army. | |
There has been no independent confirmation of the numbers killed in the clashes and the rebels did not provide a casualty figure. | |
'Bombing' | 'Bombing' |
The fighting has been taking place around the village of Kibumba about 30km (19 miles) north of Goma in North Kivu province. | |
A body count showed that more than 150 rebels and two government soldiers had been killed, said Mr Paluku, the North Kivu governor. | |
Thousands of people have fled the latest fighting, he said. | |
Mr Paluku told BBC Afrique he had received a phone call from M23 military spokesman Lt Col Vianney Kazarama who told him that the rebels would "spend the night" in Goma. | |
However, government forces would repel any attack on the city, Mr Paluku said. | |
On Thursday, the army spokesman in Goma, Olivier Hamuli, said 44 rebels had been killed - and one high-ranking officer from the army also died. | On Thursday, the army spokesman in Goma, Olivier Hamuli, said 44 rebels had been killed - and one high-ranking officer from the army also died. |
Lt Col Kazarama accused government forces of "bombing" rebel positions, but declined to give casualty figures, AFP reports. | |
Both sides accuse the other of starting the conflict. | |
Government spokesman Lambert Mende said "51 bodies [of rebels] wearing Rwandan army uniforms have been collected" from the battlefield, AFP reports. | |
On Tuesday, Uganda closed the Bunagana border crossing near Goma. | |
This followed a request from the DR Congo government, which said M23 was illegally raising money from people travelling between the two countries to finance its operations. | This followed a request from the DR Congo government, which said M23 was illegally raising money from people travelling between the two countries to finance its operations. |
Last month, a UN panel of experts said Rwanda and Uganda were supplying M23 with weapons in what is seen as an on-going battle for control of the region, which is rich in minerals. | Last month, a UN panel of experts said Rwanda and Uganda were supplying M23 with weapons in what is seen as an on-going battle for control of the region, which is rich in minerals. |
Rwanda and Uganda strongly deny the allegation. | |
The UN and US imposed a travel ban and asset freeze earlier this week on the group's leader, Sultani Makenga. | The UN and US imposed a travel ban and asset freeze earlier this week on the group's leader, Sultani Makenga. |
The UN has a large force in DR Congo to help the government establish its authority in the mostly lawless east. | The UN has a large force in DR Congo to help the government establish its authority in the mostly lawless east. |