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M23 rebels attack DR Congo army as UN force deploys M23 rebels attack DR Congo army as UN force deploys
(35 minutes later)
Heavy fighting has taken place between government and rebel forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.Heavy fighting has taken place between government and rebel forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
This was the first clash between the two sides since the UN began deploying an attack force to the area last week.This was the first clash between the two sides since the UN began deploying an attack force to the area last week.
Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame told the BBC that UN troops had "in some cases" made the situation in DR Congo worse.Meanwhile, Rwandan President Paul Kagame told the BBC that UN troops had "in some cases" made the situation in DR Congo worse.
The UN has nearly 20,000 peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo, where armed groups have wreaked havoc for two decades.The UN has nearly 20,000 peacekeepers in eastern DR Congo, where armed groups have wreaked havoc for two decades.
DR Congo army spokesman Olivier Hamuli said M23 rebels attacked government troops about 12 km (7 miles) north of the regional capital, Goma, in an attempt to prevent the deployment of the UN brigade. The BBC's Maud Jullien in the capital, Kinshasa, says it is the most serious fighting in the area since the M23 withdrew from the regional capital, Goma, in December 2012.
'Chaos' 'No plan to advance'
The army pushed back the rebels after two hours of heavy fighting, but sporadic clashes were continuing, he said. An army commander, Lt Col Mamadou Ndala, said 600 commandos were being deployed to protect the city, which the rebels seized last November before pulling out under intense diplomatic pressure, AP news agency reports.
The M23 accused government troops of attacking them first. M23 rebels attacked government troops about 12 km (7 miles) north of Goma, said army spokesman Olivier Hamuli.
It repelled the attack, and captured key positions overlooking Goma, said M23 spokesman Viannay Kazarama. The army pushed back the rebels after two hours of heavy fighting, but sporadic clashes were continuing, he added.
The M23 had probably launched the attack to disrupt the deployment of the UN brigade, government spokesman Lambert Mende said.
But the M23 accused government troops of attacking them first.
It repelled the offensive and captured key positions overlooking Goma, said M23 spokesman Viannay Kazarama.
The M23 was not planning to advance towards the city, he added,
Some 800,000 people have fled fighting since the M23 launched its rebellion last year.Some 800,000 people have fled fighting since the M23 launched its rebellion last year.
This led the UN to deploy a new 3,000-strong intervention brigade to eastern DR Congo to neutralise and disarm the rebels.This led the UN to deploy a new 3,000-strong intervention brigade to eastern DR Congo to neutralise and disarm the rebels.
The first contingent of the force arrived last week.The first contingent of the force arrived last week.
UN officials say the force, made up of troops from southern African states, had the most robust mandate ever given to a UN mission to end instability caused by rebel groups.UN officials say the force, made up of troops from southern African states, had the most robust mandate ever given to a UN mission to end instability caused by rebel groups.
The BBC's Maud Jullien in the capital, Kinshasa, says the M23 has been hit by a wave of defections since the UN Security Council adopted a resolution in March to send the force. Our correspondent says the M23 has been hit by a wave of defections since the UN Security Council adopted a resolution in March to send the force.
A defector told our correspondent earlier this month that the M23 had drawn up plans to disrupt the deployment by cutting off one of the main roads to Goma, which the rebels seized last year before pulling out under intense diplomatic pressure. One defector told the BBC earlier this month that the M23 had drawn up plans to disrupt the deployment by cutting off one of the main roads to Goma.
'Situation worse'
In an interview with the BBC, Rwanda's leader said any military effort to bring peace to DR Congo needed to be "properly co-ordinated" with political efforts.In an interview with the BBC, Rwanda's leader said any military effort to bring peace to DR Congo needed to be "properly co-ordinated" with political efforts.
He dismissed long-standing UN allegations that Rwanda backed the M23.He dismissed long-standing UN allegations that Rwanda backed the M23.
Asked how he viewed the record of the UN force, Mr Kagame said: "If you see what we had last year, the resurgence of the fighting and chaos and displacement of people and so on and so forth... what we witnessed last year - actually the situation got worse."Asked how he viewed the record of the UN force, Mr Kagame said: "If you see what we had last year, the resurgence of the fighting and chaos and displacement of people and so on and so forth... what we witnessed last year - actually the situation got worse."
Rwanda was accused of backing armed groups in DR Congo as a way to fight Hutu rebels who fled there after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.Rwanda was accused of backing armed groups in DR Congo as a way to fight Hutu rebels who fled there after the 1994 Rwandan genocide.
Mr Kagame came to power as the head of a Tutsi rebel force, which ousted the genocidal Hutu leadership.Mr Kagame came to power as the head of a Tutsi rebel force, which ousted the genocidal Hutu leadership.