This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24801091

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
DR Congo hit by fresh fighting as army presses M23 DR Congo's Bunagana town 'empty' as army presses M23
(about 4 hours later)
Fresh fighting has erupted in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as government forces try to clear the last areas held by M23 rebels. The entire population of Bunagana town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has fled fighting between government and rebel forces, residents say.
The BBC's Ignatius Bahizi in the border town of Bunagana says missiles are being fired and thousands of refugees have fled into Uganda. The BBC's Ignatius Bahizi, who is on the Ugandan side of the town, says missiles are being fired, killing four people.
The M23 on Sunday called a ceasefire to allow peace talks with the government to continue. The government on Monday rejected the M23 rebel group's call for a ceasefire.
However, our reporter says there is no sign a ceasefire has taken effect. At least 800,000 people have fled their homes since the conflict began in March 2012.
He says the mood on the border is very tense. Last week, the UN special envoy to DR Congo, Martin Kobler, said the group was all but finished as a military threat in DR Congo.
Other BBC correspondents in the area say the rebels seem to be fighting back more fiercely than on previous days. Government forces captured Bunagana, the main base of the M23 on the DR Congo-Uganda border, the next day.
Shells fired by the M23 have fallen on both sides of the border which runs through Bunagana, with at least four people killed in DR Congo, various sources have told the BBC. However, fresh fighting erupted on Monday and the mood on the border is very tense, our correspondent says.
They said the shells had landed on a market and a police station. 'Market shelled'
Refugees have told him that only Congolese government troops are now in Bunagana, with the town's several thousand residents fleeing into Uganda.
Other BBC reporters in the area say the rebels seem to be fighting back more fiercely than on previous days.
But government troops have taken Mbuzi, a strategic hilltop above Bunagana, after hitting it with tank and rocket fire, UN sources have told the BBC.
Seven rebels were captured, Reuters news agency reports.
"Victory, Victory," soldiers in the nearby town of Ntamugenga chanted after receiving a radio message that Mbuzi was under government control, a journalist with the AFP news agency reports from the scene.
Government forces are now targeting three other hilltops, where dozens of rebels are hiding, an army official told AFP.
Shells fired by the M23 have fallen on both sides of the border, with at least four people killed and 17 wounded in DR Congo, various sources have told the BBC.
They said the shells had landed on a market and a police station in Bunagana.
Ugandan district commissioner Ahmed Mustapher Doka told the BBC's Focus on Africa radio programme that Ugandan troops have been deployed near the border to instil "confidence" in the population.
Ugandan territory was shelled on four occasions as the fighting spilled over, he said.
Security officials ordered the closure of shops along the border, and told residents to move deeper into Ugandan territory, our reporter says.
The latest violence follows a string of victories by government troops who have driven rebels from all towns they once controlled during a 20-month rebellion.The latest violence follows a string of victories by government troops who have driven rebels from all towns they once controlled during a 20-month rebellion.
Peace talks in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, broke down last month following two months of negotiations.Peace talks in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, broke down last month following two months of negotiations.
On Sunday, M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa called for a ceasefire to "allow the continuation of the political process".On Sunday, M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa called for a ceasefire to "allow the continuation of the political process".
He urged rebel commanders to "ensure the strict observance of this order".He urged rebel commanders to "ensure the strict observance of this order".
However, on Monday the M23 said in a statement that the government had launched a new assault using "heavy arms".However, on Monday the M23 said in a statement that the government had launched a new assault using "heavy arms".
Correspondents with AFP news agency said fighting raged for about eight hours on Sunday and had appeared to intensify after the ceasefire order. Government spokesman Lambert Mende said the government wanted the M23 to "clearly announce the end of their armed rebellion".
General Lucien Bahuma told AFP by telephone on Sunday: "We are pounding Mbuzi [one of three mountains where the rebels are hiding]. After the artillery we will send in the troops." The M23 should also give up its weapons, he said, in a statement.
However, the government was prepared to give the M23 "one last chance", Mr Mende added, without elaborating.
BBC Africa security correspondent Moses Rono says the defeat of the M23 would send a powerful message to at least 10 other rebel groups operating in the area.BBC Africa security correspondent Moses Rono says the defeat of the M23 would send a powerful message to at least 10 other rebel groups operating in the area.
It would raise hope that a lasting peace for the troubled nation may be in sight, he adds.It would raise hope that a lasting peace for the troubled nation may be in sight, he adds.
The M23 movement is named after a 23 March 2009 peace deal that ended four years of rebellion in eastern DR Congo.The M23 movement is named after a 23 March 2009 peace deal that ended four years of rebellion in eastern DR Congo.
They took up arms once more in April 2012, accusing the government of not respecting the agreement.They took up arms once more in April 2012, accusing the government of not respecting the agreement.
The rebels briefly occupied the eastern Congolese city of Goma in November 2012 before pulling out under international pressure.The rebels briefly occupied the eastern Congolese city of Goma in November 2012 before pulling out under international pressure.
Government forces have been backed by a UN intervention brigade deployed earlier this year to confront the M23 and other armed groups.Government forces have been backed by a UN intervention brigade deployed earlier this year to confront the M23 and other armed groups.
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.
The M23 are mainly ethnic Tutsis, like most of Rwanda's current leaders.The M23 are mainly ethnic Tutsis, like most of Rwanda's current leaders.
Rwanda and Uganda deny Congolese and UN claims that they have supported the M23 rebels.Rwanda and Uganda deny Congolese and UN claims that they have supported the M23 rebels.