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DR Congo rebel leader calls truce DR Congo rebel leader calls truce
(10 minutes later)
A rebel leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo whose forces are threatening the city of Goma has told the BBC he has declared a ceasefire.A rebel leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo whose forces are threatening the city of Goma has told the BBC he has declared a ceasefire.
Renegade General Laurent Nkunda urged government troops to follow suit.Renegade General Laurent Nkunda urged government troops to follow suit.
Thousands have been fleeing an upsurge in fighting in the east in recent days, pouring into Goma. Thousands of people have been fleeing an upsurge in fighting in the east in recent days, pouring into Goma.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the violence was "creating a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions" and had urged a truce.UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the violence was "creating a humanitarian crisis of catastrophic dimensions" and had urged a truce.
Mr Nkunda told the BBC: "We are not far from Goma but because there is a state of destabilisation in the town we decided in our movement to cease fire and unilaterally to proclaim a ceasefire."Mr Nkunda told the BBC: "We are not far from Goma but because there is a state of destabilisation in the town we decided in our movement to cease fire and unilaterally to proclaim a ceasefire."
PanicPanic
Earlier, a BBC correspondent in the city says there was a "stampede" as thousands of displaced people poured into the city on the third day of fierce fighting in the area. A BBC correspondent in the city says there was a "stampede" as thousands of displaced people poured into the city on the third day of fierce fighting in the area.
Eastern DR Congo's hellIn pictures: Thousands flee fightingQ&A: DR Congo conflictEastern DR Congo's hellIn pictures: Thousands flee fightingQ&A: DR Congo conflict
Congolese soldiers withdrawing from the village of Kibumba, 30km (20 miles) to the north, also retreated to the city, creating a sense of panic among the population, our correspondent added.Congolese soldiers withdrawing from the village of Kibumba, 30km (20 miles) to the north, also retreated to the city, creating a sense of panic among the population, our correspondent added.
Earlier in Kibumba, our reporter saw an exchange of fire across the Rwandan border. Rwanda denies claims it is backing the rebels.
DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has called for more soldiers to be sent to the country, where the UN has 17,000 troops - the world's largest peacekeeping force.DR Congo President Joseph Kabila has called for more soldiers to be sent to the country, where the UN has 17,000 troops - the world's largest peacekeeping force.
The UN security council is to meet in an emergency session to discuss the crisis late on Wednesday.The UN security council is to meet in an emergency session to discuss the crisis late on Wednesday.
France, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said it supported sending forces to the area.France, which holds the rotating presidency of the EU, said it supported sending forces to the area.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that up to 1,500 men could be deployed "in Europe's name within eight to 10 days".French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said that up to 1,500 men could be deployed "in Europe's name within eight to 10 days".
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Footage of DR Congo government troops, displaced people and UN peacekeepers
On Tuesday night, supporters of Gen Nkunda took the town of Rutshuru, near the Ugandan border.
Neighbouring Rwanda has been accused of backing the general, who left the army and launched his own rebellion after DR Congo's five-year conflict officially ended in 2003.
On Tuesday evening, Mr Kabila sent two envoys to Rwanda to discuss the crisis.
But the Rwandan government denies it has anything to do with the conflict.
"They have been accusing us but wrongly," Joseph Mutaboba, the Rwandan president's special envoy to the Great Lakes, told the BBC's Network Africa programme.