afrol News, 27 October - A United Nations compound in eastern DR Congo has come under attack from angry civilians as news of advancing rebel attacks hit communities.

Protest comes as heavy fighting between government troops and rebels loyal to General Laurent Nkunda, who have added an ethnic dimenssion to DRC's security headaches, approaches centre of eastern DRC.

Reports from the eastern Congo's city of Goma said protesters hurled stones and other missiles to the UN compound in frustration to what they called a sluggish response by UN peacekeepers to rebel advances.

Fighting in eastern Congo has build-up for several years now, despite the presence of a 17,000 strong UN peacekeeping force in the region.

According to UN officials, protest which started today in the morning turned into a violent act, with at least one person reported dead, while other reports point at more people who were caught by firing peacekeepers trying to quell angry protest.

General Nkunda's rebels are said to have taken control of several major towns as well as some strategic government troops' bases, forcing thousands of villagers to flee for safety.

UN reports estimate that as many as 250,000 people have been driven from their homes since fighting between rebels and government troops intensified in August.

Mr Nkunda, a renegade general, claiming to fight to protect interests of Congolese Tutsis, has rejected several cease-fires brokered by the United Nations.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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