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Goma: M23 rebels capture DR Congo city Goma: M23 rebels capture DR Congo city
(about 3 hours later)
Fighters from the M23 rebel group have captured Goma, the main city in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.Fighters from the M23 rebel group have captured Goma, the main city in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
The rebels met little resistance from the army or UN peacekeepers.The rebels met little resistance from the army or UN peacekeepers.
The leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda, Joseph Kabila and Paul Kagame, flew to Uganda for talks, amid claims that Rwanda was backing the rebels.The leaders of DR Congo and Rwanda, Joseph Kabila and Paul Kagame, flew to Uganda for talks, amid claims that Rwanda was backing the rebels.
France called for the UN Security Council to strengthen the peacekeepers' mandate to intervene in the conflict.France called for the UN Security Council to strengthen the peacekeepers' mandate to intervene in the conflict.
It was "absurd" that the UN force could not stop the rebels, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. Mr Kabila has urged people to "resist" the rebels.
Mr Kabila called on people to "resist" the rebels.
Protesters burnt UN and ruling party property in the north-eastern city of Kisangani, as they vented their fury over the fall of Goma.Protesters burnt UN and ruling party property in the north-eastern city of Kisangani, as they vented their fury over the fall of Goma.
'Defend our sovereignty'
The UN said it had received reports that the rebels had abducted women and children from Goma.The UN said it had received reports that the rebels had abducted women and children from Goma.
Aid agencies say tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the last five days as conflict escalated.Aid agencies say tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in the last five days as conflict escalated.
One camp near Goma, where about 60,000 people from previous conflicts were taking refuge, has emptied as people flee, the agencies report.
This is the first time since the war officially ended in 2003 that rebels have entered Goma, raising fears that a wider conflict could reignite.This is the first time since the war officially ended in 2003 that rebels have entered Goma, raising fears that a wider conflict could reignite.
Some five million people died in the DR Congo war, which dragged in neighbouring states - including Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola.Some five million people died in the DR Congo war, which dragged in neighbouring states - including Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola.
Some crowds reportedly shouted "welcome" and "thank you" as M23 leader Sultani Makenga and hundreds of his fighters entered Goma, which has a population of about 400,000. Some crowds reportedly shouted "welcome" and "thank you" as M23 leader Sultani Makenga and hundreds of his fighters entered Goma, which has a population of about one million.
"The town of Goma fell at 11:33 local time [08.33GMT], despite the attack helicopters, despite the heavy weapons, the FARDC [Congolese army] has let the town fall into our hands," M23 spokesman Colonel Vianney Kazarama told Reuters news agency. A BBC correspondent says a senior rebel commander told him that if the government refused to enter into talks, they would carry on to Bukavu, another major city in eastern DR Congo.
Our correspondent says a senior rebel commander told him that if the government refuses to enter into talks, they would carry on to Bukavu, another major city in eastern DR Congo. href="http://monusco.unmissions.org/" title="Monusco website" >The 22,000-strong UN force in DR Congo, known by the acronym Monusco, did not intervene.
href="http://monusco.unmissions.org/" title="Monusco website" >The 22,000-strong UN force in DR Congo, known by the acronym Monusco, declined to intervene, army spokesman Olivier Hamuli said, AP news agency reports. UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said peacekeepers "cannot substitute" for the national army, adding that the 1,500 UN troops in Goma held their fire because they did not want to risk civilian lives.
"Monusco is keeping its defensive positions. They do not have the mandate to fight the M23," he is quoted as saying. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius called for Monusco's mandate to be altered to give it more powers, saying it was "absurd" that the UN force could not stop the rebels.
"Unfortunately, the M23 did not obey the Monusco warnings and went past their positions [at the airport]. We ask that Monusco do more." In a television broadcast, Mr Kabila called on people to defend the country. "DR Congo is today confronted with a difficult situation. When a war is imposed, one has an obligation to resist," he said. "I ask that the entire population defend our sovereignty."
In a television broadcast, Mr Kabila called on people to defend the country. Mr Kabila flew late on Monday to Kampala to discuss the conflict with his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni, as well as Rwanda's Mr Kagame.
"DR Congo is today confronted with a difficult situation. When a war is imposed, one has an obligation to resist," he said, AFP reports.
"I ask that the entire population defend our sovereignty."
The BBC's Patrice Chitera in the capital, Kinshasa, says protesters in Kisangani demanded Monusco leaves DR Congo because of its failure to defend Goma.
The protesters torched UN offices and vehicles in the city, he says.
The headquarters of Mr Kabila's party was also attacked, he adds.
'Looting and abductions'
Mr Kabila flew late on Monday to Kampala to discuss the conflict with his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni and Mr Kagame.
Rwanda has denied persistent accusations by the DR Congo government and UN that it backs the M23 rebels.Rwanda has denied persistent accusations by the DR Congo government and UN that it backs the M23 rebels.
Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said the conflict in eastern DR Congo could only be resolved through talks.Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said the conflict in eastern DR Congo could only be resolved through talks.
"By focussing on the blame game and ignoring the root causes of conflict in the DRC, the international community has missed the opportunity to help the DRC restore peace," she said, in comments posted on the government's website. "By focusing on the blame game and ignoring the root causes of conflict in the DRC, the international community has missed the opportunity to help the DRC restore peace," she said, in comments posted on the government's website.
The rebels have gone through Goma and have reached the border with Rwanda, our reporter in the city says.
UN spokesman Eduardo del Buey said their peacekeepers in Goma, numbering 1,500, would stay in the city.
However, the UN force did not block the rebel advance because they were not a "substitute for the efforts of national security forces", he said.
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague condemned the rebel takeover.
"The M23 must withdraw their forces immediately and allow legitimate government control to be restored. The cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians is paramount," he said.
German newspaper Tageszeitung's reporter in Goma, Simone Schlindwein, told the BBC she saw the bodies of 10 government soldiers lying in a pool of blood near the airport.
Staff at the main hospital in Goma reported that one civilian had died and 90 had been wounded after being caught in the crossfire, Ms Schlindwein said.
Government forces looted homes before they fled towards South Kivu province, said.
Various rebels groups have been active in mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since the end of the war in 2003.Various rebels groups have been active in mineral-rich eastern DR Congo since the end of the war in 2003.
The latest conflict broke out after a mutiny in the army in April, when a group of former rebels formed the M23, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army.The latest conflict broke out after a mutiny in the army in April, when a group of former rebels formed the M23, also known as the Congolese Revolutionary Army.
About 500,000 people have fled the fighting since then.About 500,000 people have fled the fighting since then.
The M23 is largely made up of ethnic Tutsis, the same group which dominates the government in Rwanda.The M23 is largely made up of ethnic Tutsis, the same group which dominates the government in Rwanda.
Are you in DR Congo? Send us your comments and details of your experiences using the form below.Are you in DR Congo? Send us your comments and details of your experiences using the form below.