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Congo city panics as rebels near Congo city panics as rebels near
(29 minutes later)
Residents are fleeing Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as Tutsi rebels battling the army near the city. People are pouring into Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo as Tutsi rebels battling the army near the city.
The BBC's Thomas Fessy says people are leaving by foot in a panic after seeing Congolese army troops enter the city. A BBC reporter says thousands already displaced to the north of Goma are on the move after seeing troops retreat.
The UN has relocated civilian personnel from its HQ near Goma's airport to a base near Lake Kivu. In the city, the UN has relocated civilian personnel from its HQ near the airport to a base near Lake Kivu.
Earlier in Kibumba village, north of Goma, our reporter saw an exchange of fire across the Rwandan border. Rwanda denies claims it is backing the rebels. Meanwhile, the 15-member UN Security Council will be briefed on the latest situation in an emergency meeting on Wednesday evening.
Rwanda's foreign minister told Reuters news agency Congolese troops had fired into Rwanda, but had not pursued them. Panic
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has spoken to Congolese President Joseph Kabila and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and he sent envoys to both capitals. name="text"> Our correspondent says there was a "stampede" in Goma, as thousands of displaced people poured into the city on the third day of fierce fighting in the area.
Both President Kabila and the UN have called for more troops to be sent to DR Congo, where the UN has a 17,000 troops - the world's largest peacekeeping force. Congolese soldiers withdrawing from the village of Kibumba, 30 km north of Goma, also retreated to the city, creating a panic in its population, our correspondent adds.
Earlier in Kibumba, our reporter saw an exchange of fire across the Rwandan border. Rwanda denies claims it is backing the rebels.
See detailed map of the area See detailed map of the area
Our correspondent says the sight of Congolese troops retreating into Goma has led to panic, with people leaving by foot in a great hurry. Rwanda's foreign minister said Congolese troops had fired into Rwanda, but its soldiers had not pursued them.
The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has spoken to Congolese President Joseph Kabila and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and he sent envoys to both capitals.
Both President Kabila and the UN have called for more troops to be sent to DR Congo, where the UN has a 17,000 troops - the world's largest peacekeeping force.
Eastern DR Congo's hellIn pictures: Thousands flee fightingEastern DR Congo's hellIn pictures: Thousands flee fighting
But UN spokesman Madnodge Mounoubai, in the capital, Kinshasa, said the UN was not evacuating Goma. UN spokesman Madnodge Mounoubai, in the capital, Kinshasa, said the UN was not evacuating Goma.
He said civilian personnel were being moved to the lakeside site, a camp for demobilised soldiers, because there were better facilities for the UN staff there including water and food.He said civilian personnel were being moved to the lakeside site, a camp for demobilised soldiers, because there were better facilities for the UN staff there including water and food.
Returning fire
The third day of fierce fighting in the area is getting closer to the city, our correspondent says.
From a hill overlooking Kibumba, 30km from Goma, earlier on Wednesday our correspondent could clearly see flashes coming from the Rwandan border - marked by a line of trees.
Congolese forces nearby were pointing their tanks in the direction of the flashes and were returning fire.
On Tuesday night, General Laurent Nkunda's fighters took the town of Rutshuru, further north near the Ugandan border, giving the rebels control of a long stretch of the road to Goma.On Tuesday night, General Laurent Nkunda's fighters took the town of Rutshuru, further north near the Ugandan border, giving the rebels control of a long stretch of the road to Goma.
'Wrongly accused'
Neighbouring Rwanda has been accused of backing Gen Nkunda, who left the army and launched his own low-level rebellion after DR Congo's five-year conflict officially ended in 2003.Neighbouring Rwanda has been accused of backing Gen Nkunda, who left the army and launched his own low-level rebellion after DR Congo's five-year conflict officially ended in 2003.
'Accusing us wrongly'
On Tuesday evening, Congolese President Joseph Kabila sent two envoys to Kigali to discuss the crisis. But Rwanda continues to deny it has anything to do with the conflict.On Tuesday evening, Congolese President Joseph Kabila sent two envoys to Kigali to discuss the crisis. But Rwanda continues to deny it has anything to do with the conflict.
"They have been accusing us but wrongly. Rwanda has never intervened in the Congo ever since we left on 5 October 2002," Joseph Mutaboba, the Rwandan president's special envoy to the Great Lakes, told the BBC's Network Africa programme."They have been accusing us but wrongly. Rwanda has never intervened in the Congo ever since we left on 5 October 2002," Joseph Mutaboba, the Rwandan president's special envoy to the Great Lakes, told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Rwanda has twice invaded its much larger neighbour, saying it wants to stop Hutu rebels from operating there.Rwanda has twice invaded its much larger neighbour, saying it wants to stop Hutu rebels from operating there.
It claims that two rebel brigades are fighting with the Congolese army.It claims that two rebel brigades are fighting with the Congolese army.
Mr Kabila has appealed for a multi-national force to help restore order.Mr Kabila has appealed for a multi-national force to help restore order.
Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect the minority Tutsi community from the Hutu militia which carried out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect the minority Tutsi community from the Hutu militia which carried out the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
But Alistair Dutton, Christian Aid humanitarian manager for Africa, told the BBC that the fighting was also for control of resources.But Alistair Dutton, Christian Aid humanitarian manager for Africa, told the BBC that the fighting was also for control of resources.
Eastern DR Congo is rich in gold and other minerals, such as coltan, used in mobile phones.Eastern DR Congo is rich in gold and other minerals, such as coltan, used in mobile phones.
A peace deal was signed in Goma between the government and various rebel groups at the end of January.A peace deal was signed in Goma between the government and various rebel groups at the end of January.
Although he signed the deal, Gen Nkunda - whose main strongholds are in Kichanga in the Masisi Mountains and Bunagana town bordering Uganda - has always refused to disarm while Rwandan Hutu rebels still operate in the area.Although he signed the deal, Gen Nkunda - whose main strongholds are in Kichanga in the Masisi Mountains and Bunagana town bordering Uganda - has always refused to disarm while Rwandan Hutu rebels still operate in the area.
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