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| DR Congo army 'seizes' Bunagana base from M23 rebels | DR Congo army 'seizes' Bunagana base from M23 rebels |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have captured Bunagana town, the main base of the M23 rebel group, residents say. | Government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have captured Bunagana town, the main base of the M23 rebel group, residents say. |
| The troops entered the town on the Ugandan border in large numbers as the rebels fled, residents told the BBC. | The troops entered the town on the Ugandan border in large numbers as the rebels fled, residents told the BBC. |
| M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa was earlier reported to have crossed into Uganda as Congolese troops advanced on his base. | |
| The M23 launched a rebellion in eastern DR Congo in April 2012. | The M23 launched a rebellion in eastern DR Congo in April 2012. |
| It is made up of army deserters who say they are fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi ethnic group. | It is made up of army deserters who say they are fighting for the rights of the minority Tutsi ethnic group. |
| At least 800,000 people have been left homeless since the conflict started. | At least 800,000 people have been left homeless since the conflict started. |
| About 10,000 people fled to Uganda this week, with about half of them arriving on Wednesday, said Lucy Beck, a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports. | About 10,000 people fled to Uganda this week, with about half of them arriving on Wednesday, said Lucy Beck, a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports. |
| Heavy shelling | Heavy shelling |
| On Monday, the UN special envoy to DR Congo, Martin Kobler, said the M23 was all but finished as a military threat in DR Congo. | On Monday, the UN special envoy to DR Congo, Martin Kobler, said the M23 was all but finished as a military threat in DR Congo. |
| His comments came after government forces captured five M23-held areas, including Rumangabo where the rebels had a big military training camp. | His comments came after government forces captured five M23-held areas, including Rumangabo where the rebels had a big military training camp. |
| The government forces have been backed by a UN intervention brigade deployed earlier this year to confront the M23 and other armed groups. | The government forces have been backed by a UN intervention brigade deployed earlier this year to confront the M23 and other armed groups. |
| The BBC's Ignatius Bahizi in Uganda says residents in Bunagana told him there was heavy shelling, before the town fell to government forces. | The BBC's Ignatius Bahizi in Uganda says residents in Bunagana told him there was heavy shelling, before the town fell to government forces. |
| Bunagana, a town of several thousand people and the headquarters of Mr Bisimwa, is on the Uganda-DR Congo border. | Bunagana, a town of several thousand people and the headquarters of Mr Bisimwa, is on the Uganda-DR Congo border. |
| Mr Bisimwa had surrendered to Ugandan security operatives after crossing the border in a convoy of two vehicles, Uganda's state-owned New Vision newspaper reported. | Mr Bisimwa had surrendered to Ugandan security operatives after crossing the border in a convoy of two vehicles, Uganda's state-owned New Vision newspaper reported. |
| He left Bunagana when government and UN forces were about 5km (three miles) away from the town and he was being questioned by Ugandan security operatives, the paper said. | He left Bunagana when government and UN forces were about 5km (three miles) away from the town and he was being questioned by Ugandan security operatives, the paper said. |
| However, M23 officials denied that Mr Bisimwa had fled. | However, M23 officials denied that Mr Bisimwa had fled. |
| They told our reporter that the M23 political leader had travelled to Uganda to sign a peace accord with the government. | They told our reporter that the M23 political leader had travelled to Uganda to sign a peace accord with the government. |
| Peace talks hosted by Uganda broke down last week. | Peace talks hosted by Uganda broke down last week. |
| The UN and DR Congo government have repeatedly accused Rwanda and Uganda of backing the rebels. They deny the allegation. | The UN and DR Congo government have repeatedly accused Rwanda and Uganda of backing the rebels. They deny the allegation. |
| Eastern DR Congo has been wracked by conflict since 1994, when Hutu militias fled across the border from Rwanda after carrying out a genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. | Eastern DR Congo has been wracked by conflict since 1994, when Hutu militias fled across the border from Rwanda after carrying out a genocide against Tutsis and moderate Hutus. |