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| Air raid 'kills 80 Congo rebels' | Air raid 'kills 80 Congo rebels' |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| The Democratic Republic of Congo has used a helicopter gunship for the first time in the fighting against rebels in the east of the country. | The Democratic Republic of Congo has used a helicopter gunship for the first time in the fighting against rebels in the east of the country. |
| A Congolese general told the BBC that the bodies of 80 rebel fighters had been found but this has not been independently confirmed. | A Congolese general told the BBC that the bodies of 80 rebel fighters had been found but this has not been independently confirmed. |
| The clashes are continuing in two parts of North Kivu province, including in a park inhabited by mountain gorillas. | The clashes are continuing in two parts of North Kivu province, including in a park inhabited by mountain gorillas. |
| Some 170,000 people have fled the area this year, says the UN refugee agency. | Some 170,000 people have fled the area this year, says the UN refugee agency. |
| The air strike by the Mi-24 gunship took place some 80km (50 miles) west of the regional capital, Goma, Colonel Delphin Kahimbi told the BBC. | The air strike by the Mi-24 gunship took place some 80km (50 miles) west of the regional capital, Goma, Colonel Delphin Kahimbi told the BBC. |
| "There was heavy fighting near Karuba. We deployed an attack helicopter to back our ground troops," he told the AFP news agency. | "There was heavy fighting near Karuba. We deployed an attack helicopter to back our ground troops," he told the AFP news agency. |
| A Congolese general also said there was fighting near Sake, about 40km (25 miles) west of Goma, where fighting broke out last week. | A Congolese general also said there was fighting near Sake, about 40km (25 miles) west of Goma, where fighting broke out last week. |
| The army says that 180 rebel fighters have now been killed in recent days. | The army says that 180 rebel fighters have now been killed in recent days. |
| Outrage | Outrage |
| Conservationists are increasingly concerned for the remaining 700 mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park. | Conservationists are increasingly concerned for the remaining 700 mountain gorillas in the Virunga National Park. |
| Half of these live in Virunga, where the army is attacking the positions of renegade General Laurent Nkunda. | Half of these live in Virunga, where the army is attacking the positions of renegade General Laurent Nkunda. |
| Diary: Protecting gorillas class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3786883.stm">Profile: Gen Laurent Nkunda | |
| "If anything happens to the mountain gorillas now, there is nothing we can do," said Norbert Mushenzi of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). | "If anything happens to the mountain gorillas now, there is nothing we can do," said Norbert Mushenzi of the Congolese Institute for the Conservation of Nature (ICCN). |
| "As of today, the sector is no longer under my control and we have been rendered powerless by these actions." | "As of today, the sector is no longer under my control and we have been rendered powerless by these actions." |
| Nine gorillas have been killed this year, allegedly by Gen Nkunda's men, sparking outrage among conservationists. | Nine gorillas have been killed this year, allegedly by Gen Nkunda's men, sparking outrage among conservationists. |
| Gen Nkunda's forces are believed to have moved into the park in pursuit of Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have bases there. | Gen Nkunda's forces are believed to have moved into the park in pursuit of Rwandan Hutu rebels, who have bases there. |
| Officials from local conservation group, Wildlife Direct, say the forces looted weapons and communication equipment from Jomba and Bikenge ranger patrol posts within the park. | Officials from local conservation group, Wildlife Direct, say the forces looted weapons and communication equipment from Jomba and Bikenge ranger patrol posts within the park. |
| A third post, Bukima, was evacuated for fear of imminent attack, the group said. | A third post, Bukima, was evacuated for fear of imminent attack, the group said. |
| 'State of war' | 'State of war' |
| Gen Nkunda, a Tutsi, has accused the government of forming an alliance against him with the Hutu FDLR, accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis. | Gen Nkunda, a Tutsi, has accused the government of forming an alliance against him with the Hutu FDLR, accused of involvement in the 1994 Rwandan genocide of Tutsis. |
| After Tutsis took control in Rwanda, they crossed the border into eastern DR Congo. | After Tutsis took control in Rwanda, they crossed the border into eastern DR Congo. |
| Nine gorillas have already been killed this yearOver the weekend, Gen Nkunda told the BBC there was a "state of war" in North Kivu. | Nine gorillas have already been killed this yearOver the weekend, Gen Nkunda told the BBC there was a "state of war" in North Kivu. |
| The United Nations says up to 10,000 people have fled the latest fighting into Uganda. | The United Nations says up to 10,000 people have fled the latest fighting into Uganda. |
| The UN refugee agency says it is organising shelter for those who fled the violence Monday night and wish to stay on the Ugandan side of the frontier. | The UN refugee agency says it is organising shelter for those who fled the violence Monday night and wish to stay on the Ugandan side of the frontier. |
| Following a visit by Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande to Kinshasa, DR Congo has promised to increase its operations against the FDLR. | Following a visit by Rwandan Foreign Minister Charles Murigande to Kinshasa, DR Congo has promised to increase its operations against the FDLR. |
| Rwanda has twice invaded its large neighbour, saying it is trying to stop the FDLR from attacking its territory. | Rwanda has twice invaded its large neighbour, saying it is trying to stop the FDLR from attacking its territory. |
| Peacekeepers | Peacekeepers |
| BBC Kinshasa correspondent Arnaud Zajtman says that the two countries are still divided by the same issues which have divided them for years - DR Congo wants Rwanda to rein in Tutsi fighters, such as Gen Nkunda, while Rwanda wants DR Congo to stop the activities of the Hutu rebels, known as the FDLR. | |
| Last month, Rwanda protested against DR Congo's move to call off an offensive against the FDLR. | Last month, Rwanda protested against DR Congo's move to call off an offensive against the FDLR. |
| Mr Murigande and his Congolese counterpart Mbusa Nyamwisi also asked the UN to intensify patrols in the east of the country where fighting is raging. | Mr Murigande and his Congolese counterpart Mbusa Nyamwisi also asked the UN to intensify patrols in the east of the country where fighting is raging. |
| The UN has some 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo - the largest such force in the world and has sent an extra 200 troops to the region after the latest fighting. | The UN has some 17,000 peacekeepers in DR Congo - the largest such force in the world and has sent an extra 200 troops to the region after the latest fighting. |
| Our reporter says the ministers have also agreed to form a commission to ensure that Congolese ethnic Tutsis who are refugees in Rwanda are repatriated. | Our reporter says the ministers have also agreed to form a commission to ensure that Congolese ethnic Tutsis who are refugees in Rwanda are repatriated. |