afrol News, 29 August - Clashes have broken out between rebel group and Congolese army yesterday in Eastern Democratic of Congo said United Nations.

The fighting was the first major clash since a peace deal was signed with various rebel factions in eastern town of Goma this January. Goma agreement, committed warring factions to slowly disengage their troops on ground before full demobilisation of armed forces.

United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo (MONUC) said rebels aligned with rebel General Laurent Nkunda and government soldiers exchanged fire for around eight hours in North Kivu province on Thursday.

Fighting between Congolese FARDC armed forces and ex-general Laurent Nkunda's rebel CNDP (National Congress for the Defence of the People) had died late yesterday, reports of dead and wounded on either side were unconfirmed, said UN.

"It's an unhappy development. We have sent armed vehicles to patrol area and combat helicopters are standing by ready to take off if needed," said spokesman Lieutenant colonel Jean Paul Dietrich.

Mr Dietrich said it was not obvious who started the fighting, but said that something had been bound to happen after recent tensions. Both groups blamed each other for starting conflict and later offered conflicting accounts about which one held upper hand some 50 kilometres north of Goma.

Western diplomats earlier this month warned that the situation in the east of the DRC was becoming increasingly tense as various groups rearmed.

"We do not understand why they attacked us," FARDC General Mayala Kyama Vainqueur said telephonically.

General said CNDP attacked his troops in early hours of morning in Kanombe, with civilians fleeing on going fighting accusations rebels denied.

Meanwhile CNDP spokesperson Rene Abandi reported that fire was opened in Kanombe, Kabaya and Rugari by FARDC adding that attack was in response to rebel group rising it's flag in a nearby town.

According to a hospital nurse 15 seriously wounded FARDC soldiers were admitted in Rutshuru.

After DRC war officially ended, January peace accords were designed to end sporadic clashes that occurred in 2007 as a result of long conflict in resources rich country. Over 5 million people were estimated dead.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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