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| DR Congo M23 rebels enter Goma city | DR Congo M23 rebels enter Goma city |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Rebel fighters have entered central Goma, the main city in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. | Rebel fighters have entered central Goma, the main city in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| The M23 rebels say they have captured Goma, but this has not been confirmed. | |
| President Joseph Kabila, who has flown to Uganda for talks, called on people to "resist", amid fears that the DR Congo war could resume. | |
| The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Goma says he saw the rebels exchange some small arms fire with the army but they otherwise met little resistance. | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Goma says he saw the rebels exchange some small arms fire with the army but they otherwise met little resistance. |
| 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. | One camp near Goma, where about 60,000 people from previous conflicts were taking refuge, has emptied as people flee, the agencies report. |
| 'Defend our sovereignty' | 'Defend our sovereignty' |
| This is the first time since the war officially ended in 2003 that rebels have entered Goma, which has a population of about 400,000. | This is the first time since the war officially ended in 2003 that rebels have entered Goma, which has a population of about 400,000. |
| Some five million people died in the war, which dragged in neighbouring states - including Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. | Some five million people died in the war, which dragged in neighbouring states - including Rwanda, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. |
| In a television broadcast, Mr Kabila called on people to defend the country, AFP news agency reports. | In a television broadcast, Mr Kabila called on people to defend the country, AFP news agency reports. |
| "DR Congo is today confronted with a difficult situation. When a war is imposed, one has an obligation to resist," he is quoted as saying. | "DR Congo is today confronted with a difficult situation. When a war is imposed, one has an obligation to resist," he is quoted as saying. |
| "I ask that the entire population defend our sovereignty." | "I ask that the entire population defend our sovereignty." |
| He later flew to Uganda to discuss the conflict with his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni. | |
| Rwanda has denied persistent accusations that it backs the M23 rebels. | Rwanda has denied persistent accusations that it backs the M23 rebels. |
| On Monday, it accused the Congolese army of deliberately firing across the border onto its territory. | On Monday, it accused the Congolese army of deliberately firing across the border onto its territory. |
| The commander of United Nations peacekeepers in DR Congo, Lt-Gen Chandar Prakash, said the rebels had tried to attack his forces at the airport, but had been repelled. | The commander of United Nations peacekeepers in DR Congo, Lt-Gen Chandar Prakash, said the rebels had tried to attack his forces at the airport, but had been repelled. |
| Some rebels had used the cover of civilian houses to bypass the UN base there and enter the town, he said. | Some rebels had used the cover of civilian houses to bypass the UN base there and enter the town, he said. |
| Our correspondent says he understands that government forces are no longer at Goma's airport, but UN forces are still there. | Our correspondent says he understands that government forces are no longer at Goma's airport, but UN forces are still there. |
| The UN force has not tried to resist the rebel advance, and watched as about a dozen rebels marched past their armoured vehicles, our reporter adds. | The UN force has not tried to resist the rebel advance, and watched as about a dozen rebels marched past their armoured vehicles, our reporter adds. |
| He says the rebels have gone through Goma and have reached the border with Rwanda. | He says the rebels have gone through Goma and have reached the border with Rwanda. |
| "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. | "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. |
| Looting | Looting |
| 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. | 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. |
| Residents told her there were many more corpses on side streets and in nearby fields. | Residents told her there were many more corpses on side streets and in nearby fields. |
| 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. | 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 had looted homes in Goma and were now retreating towards South Kivu province, she added. | Government forces had looted homes in Goma and were now retreating towards South Kivu province, she added. |
| On Monday, the government rejected a 24-hour ultimatum by M23 to withdraw its forces from Goma and enter into peace talks. | On Monday, the government rejected a 24-hour ultimatum by M23 to withdraw its forces from Goma and enter into peace talks. |
| It said it would defend the city and it would only hold talks with Rwanda, as it controlled the rebels. The UN also says Rwanda is backing the M23. | It said it would defend the city and it would only hold talks with Rwanda, as it controlled the rebels. The UN also says Rwanda is backing the M23. |
| On Monday, Rwandan General Joseph Nzabamwita told the AFP news agency that DR Congo had used T55 tanks and mortar bombs to fire into its territory. Rwanda's army did not respond, he said. | On Monday, Rwandan General Joseph Nzabamwita told the AFP news agency that DR Congo had used T55 tanks and mortar bombs to fire into its territory. Rwanda's army did not respond, he 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. |
| The UN has about 22,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo. | The UN has about 22,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo. |
| 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. |