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Congo rebels clash with militia Congo rebels clash with militia
(about 5 hours later)
Rebel forces and local militia have clashed for a second day north of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, UN and militia sources say.Rebel forces and local militia have clashed for a second day north of Goma in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, UN and militia sources say.
The fighting between rebels and pro-government militia including the Pareco Mai-Mai group was reported around Kiwanja in North Kivu province. The fighting between rebels and pro-government militia including the Pareco Mai-Mai group occurred around Kiwanja, causing citizens to flee.
Rebel leader Gen Laurent Nkunda accused the government of breaking a ceasefire declared last week.Rebel leader Gen Laurent Nkunda accused the government of breaking a ceasefire declared last week.
More than 250,000 people have fled their homes amid the fighting.More than 250,000 people have fled their homes amid the fighting.
The latest violence has hampered efforts by aid agencies to provide food and other relief. Hundreds of people, many of them women and children, were reported to be streaming out of Kiwanja, about 80km (50 miles) from the regional capital, Goma, after the latest clashes.
The UN refugee agency says three camps for displaced people near Rutshuru, also north of Goma, have been emptied and destroyed.
We will do our best to protect the people of Goma Alan Doss Head of UN mission Congo witness: 'I saw them die'We will do our best to protect the people of Goma Alan Doss Head of UN mission Congo witness: 'I saw them die'
The agency has said it was trying to establish the fate of about 50,000 people who had been sheltering in the area. Tens of thousands of are in and around Goma, which Gen Nkunda has threatened to attack - though the ceasefire around the city appears to be holding for now.
A BBC correspondent in the area said a UN convoy that travelled north from Goma this week had so far only been able to deliver food and beer to the peacekeepers. Any battles there could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe, the BBC's Peter Greste reports from the city.
Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Joseph Kabila agrees to hold direct talks. In a significant hardening of their position, UN peacekeeping troops there have been ordered to fire on any armed groups trying to enter the city, he says.
The rebel leader says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is on his way to Kenya for an African Union (AU) summit on the crisis in DR Congo.
He is due to meet Congolese President Joseph Kabila and Rwandan President Paul Kagame
Food and beer
The fighting at Kiwanja, near Rutshuru, has forced some aid workers to suspend their activities a day after bringing in the first food convoy to rebel-held territory.
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The UN refugee agency says three camps for displaced people near Rutshuru have been emptied and destroyed.
The agency has been trying to establish the fate of about 50,000 people who had been sheltering in the area.
A BBC correspondent in the area said the UN convoy that travelled north from Goma had so far only been able to deliver food and beer to the peacekeepers.
Gen Nkunda says he is fighting to protect his Tutsi community from attack by Rwandan Hutu rebels, some of whom are accused of taking part in the Rwandan genocide in 1994.
Rwanda has been accused of backing Gen Nkunda's rebels, a charge which it has denied.
Mr Kagame said on Wednesday that he would attend the summit in Kenya, but the real cause of the violence in DR Congo was because of the failure of the country's leadership.
"If a leadership... is both unable and unwilling to deal with their own problems, how can I be of influence?" he said.
Goma threatGoma threat
Gen Nkunda has said his forces are now free to pursue their offensive, accusing the government of breaking the ceasefire. Gen Nkunda has threatened to topple the DR Congo government in Kinshasa, 1,580km (980 miles) west of Goma, unless President Kabila agrees to hold direct talks.
He has said his forces are now free to pursue their offensive, accusing the government of breaking the ceasefire.
Tens of thousands of people have taken refuge around Goma
In the latest fighting, his rebels have clashed with Pareco Mai-Mai forces mainly made up of Congolese Hutus, who Gen Nkunda alleges are backed by the government.In the latest fighting, his rebels have clashed with Pareco Mai-Mai forces mainly made up of Congolese Hutus, who Gen Nkunda alleges are backed by the government.
The militia have attacked rebel-held positions in Kiwanja and near Rutshuru, about 80km (50 miles) from Goma, where aid workers said they had heard fire from machineguns and other heavy artillery. The militia have attacked rebel-held positions in Kiwanja and near Rutshuru, where aid workers said they had heard fire from machineguns and other heavy artillery.
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Fighting in Kiwanja continued early on Wednesday, while forces loyal to Gen Nkunda fired at militia forces from positions around Rutshuru.Fighting in Kiwanja continued early on Wednesday, while forces loyal to Gen Nkunda fired at militia forces from positions around Rutshuru.
Correspondents say the militia involvement in the fighting makes any push for negotiations between Gen Nkunda and the government more complicated.Correspondents say the militia involvement in the fighting makes any push for negotiations between Gen Nkunda and the government more complicated.
They say the latest clashes sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack Goma - or target Masisi, a hub for Rwandan Hutu rebels west of Goma where aid workers have been evacuated and that is now surrounded by Gen Nkunda's men.They say the latest clashes sparked fears the rebels could follow through on their threat to attack Goma - or target Masisi, a hub for Rwandan Hutu rebels west of Goma where aid workers have been evacuated and that is now surrounded by Gen Nkunda's men.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Goma says the rebel threat against Kinshasa could be hubris, as it is hard to see how he could transport between 6,000 and 7,000 fighters all the way across a country the size of western Europe. Our correspondent in Goma says the rebel threat against Kinshasa could be hubris, as it is hard to see how he could transport between 6,000 and 7,000 fighters all the way across a country the size of western Europe.
The rebel forces do, however, appear to have the strength to take Goma, he said.The rebel forces do, however, appear to have the strength to take Goma, he said.
The head of the UN mission in Congo has urged Gen Nkunda not to carry out his threats. The head of the UN mission in Congo has also urged Gen Nkunda not to carry out his threats.
"I hope General Nkunda doesn't attempt to do what he has talked about. It's not in his interests and it's certainly not in the interests of this country and the people of this country," Alan Doss told the BBC. "But, in case he doesn't, we have taken certain measures; we brought in some reinforcements and we will bring in more," Alan Doss told the BBC.
"But, in case he doesn't, we have taken certain measures; we brought in some reinforcements and we will bring in more.
"We will do our best to protect the people of Goma. We will certainly ensure that key institutions and installations are protected.""We will do our best to protect the people of Goma. We will certainly ensure that key institutions and installations are protected."