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| DR Congo army pushes rebels back | DR Congo army pushes rebels back |
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| Government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have pushed rebels back 5km (three miles) at the frontline north of the eastern city of Goma. | |
| The BBC's Mark Doyle says the two sides are now separated by a dormant lava field created by a nearby volcano. | |
| In Goma, hundreds of women are expected to join a protest shortly to demand peace and protection for the region. | In Goma, hundreds of women are expected to join a protest shortly to demand peace and protection for the region. |
| Aid workers have warned that thousands of people at a camp near Goma should be moved in case fighting breaks out. | Aid workers have warned that thousands of people at a camp near Goma should be moved in case fighting breaks out. |
| More than 60,000 displaced people are at the Kibati camp, close to the frontline separating government troops and rebels loyal to Gen Laurent Nkunda. | More than 60,000 displaced people are at the Kibati camp, close to the frontline separating government troops and rebels loyal to Gen Laurent Nkunda. |
| name="text"> class="bodl" href="#infographic">See detailed map of the area They are among 250,000 who have fled the violence which flared in August. | |
| Fighting has stopped aid from reaching Kibati and forced many there to flee south to the provincial capital, Goma. | Fighting has stopped aid from reaching Kibati and forced many there to flee south to the provincial capital, Goma. |
| Our correspondent says the frontline is now just beyond two strategic hills, on top of which government forces have placed spotters and artillery. | |
| FORCES AROUND GOMA CNDP: Gen Nkunda's Tutsi rebels - 6,000 fightersFDLR: Rwandan Hutus - 6,000-7,000Mai Mai: pro-government militia - 3,500Monuc: UN peacekeepers - 6,000 in North Kivu, including about 1,000 in Goma (17,000 nationwide)DRC army - 90,000 (nationwide) Source: UN, military experts | FORCES AROUND GOMA CNDP: Gen Nkunda's Tutsi rebels - 6,000 fightersFDLR: Rwandan Hutus - 6,000-7,000Mai Mai: pro-government militia - 3,500Monuc: UN peacekeepers - 6,000 in North Kivu, including about 1,000 in Goma (17,000 nationwide)DRC army - 90,000 (nationwide) Source: UN, military experts |
| The distance between the nearest opposing troops is just a few hundred metres, he says. | The distance between the nearest opposing troops is just a few hundred metres, he says. |
| On the rebel side of the line he saw rebel soldiers consolidating their own, high, ground - more hills from which they could target the government forces on the road below. | On the rebel side of the line he saw rebel soldiers consolidating their own, high, ground - more hills from which they could target the government forces on the road below. |
| The United Nations peacekeeping force in DR Congo wants the two sides to move further apart to minimise the possibility of accidental clashes which could exacerbate the already disastrous humanitarian situation. | The United Nations peacekeeping force in DR Congo wants the two sides to move further apart to minimise the possibility of accidental clashes which could exacerbate the already disastrous humanitarian situation. |
| There are moves internationally to bolster the peacekeeping presence in DR Congo - at the moment it stands at 17,000 - the world's largest peace mission. | |
| The EU is to consider ways of strengthening the force at a meeting where mounting a humanitarian aid mission to DR Congo is also to be considered, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said. | |
| While the US and UK have urged the UN Security Council to approve a request from the UN for 3,000 extra troops. | |
| UN troops have reinforced their positions in Goma and say they will prevent the rebels from taking the city, as they have threatened. | UN troops have reinforced their positions in Goma and say they will prevent the rebels from taking the city, as they have threatened. |
| Looting | |
| On Thursday, Gen Nkunda's rebels - who are demanding protection from Rwandan Hutu rebels who fled to DR Congo after Rwanda's 1994 genocide - told the AFP news agency they had advanced to the outskirts of the strategic town of Kanyabayonga, 100km (60 miles) north of Goma. | |
| ICRC coordinator Ian Byram on the continuing aid relief in Kibati | ICRC coordinator Ian Byram on the continuing aid relief in Kibati |
| Government forces were accused of looting and raping civilians there earlier in the week. | Government forces were accused of looting and raping civilians there earlier in the week. |
| The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest upsurge in violence. | The UN has accused both sides of war crimes during the latest upsurge in violence. |
| On Friday, women dressed in black are expected to gather at a sports stadium in Goma housing thousands of people who have fled the fighting. | On Friday, women dressed in black are expected to gather at a sports stadium in Goma housing thousands of people who have fled the fighting. |
| A spokesman for the charity ActionAid told the BBC cases of rape and violence against women have risen dramatically since the latest fighting broke out. | A spokesman for the charity ActionAid told the BBC cases of rape and violence against women have risen dramatically since the latest fighting broke out. |
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| Are you in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the Democratic Republic of Congo? Are you affected by the issues in this story? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |