- Rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have extended attacks against government army and UN peacekeepers in largest offensive in two months of fighting in eastern North Kivu.
Ethnic Tutsi rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda today attacked in several areas between Kibumba and Rutshuru towns, 25 kilometers (16 miles) and 70 kilometers north of North Kivu province's capital, Goma, respectively, provincial army commander General Vainqueur Mayala said.
"Fighting is continuing in those areas,'' Mayala said by telephone from Goma, some 1,570 kilometers east of Kinshasa, the capital.
Meanwhile, prime minister Adolphe Muzito has had to postpone his trip to Goma today because of fighting in area, according to his spokesman, Patrick Muyaya.
Reports show that president Joseph Kabila has dismally failed to establish peace in North Kivu after end of two civil wars in 2003, in which as many as 5 million people have died.
Congo, which is Africa's largest tin producer, exports three quarters of its shipments of metal from Goma.
Peacekeepers of UN Mission in Congo, known as Monuc, were also reportedly engaged in deadly fighting with Gen Nkunda's National Congress for the Defense of the People, (CNDP).
Rebel spokesman Bertrand Bisimwa said, "Monuc is behaving like a belligerent. They are coming with their helicopters and tanks. We have to defend ourselves,'' he said.
UN is preparing to evacuate about 50 international and Congolese aid workers from Rutshuru, according to Gloria Fernandez, head of UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Congo.
"Security situation has been uncertain for last few days,'' she told media today in a telephone interview from capital Kinshasa.
Monuc's military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Samba Tall was said to have not been available for comment, while the mission's commander, Lieutenant-General Vicente Diaz, reportedly resigned yesterday, citing personal reasons.
Peacekeeping mission comprises about 16,475 soldiers, with largest contributions from Pakistan, India, Uruguay and Bangladesh. Lt Gen Diaz took command last month. Spanish general's posting was expected to last about a year.
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