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Goma: M23 rebels 'capture DR Congo city' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Fighters from the M23 rebel group say they have captured Goma, the main city in resource-rich eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. | |
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse says he saw the rebels exchange some small-arms fire with the army but they otherwise met little resistance. | |
UN peacekeepers watched as rebels marched past their vehicles, he adds. | |
President Joseph Kabila, who flew to Uganda for talks, called on people to "resist" the rebels. | |
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. | 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. |
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. |