Congo army clashes with M23 rebels near Goma
- 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)
STORY: Democratic Republic of Congo's army clashed with fighters from the M23 rebel group close to the eastern city of Goma Monday for a second day, in what appeared to be the most serious combat for several weeks.
At Muja, a village some seven miles or 11 kilometers from Goma, government forces used heavy weapons to try to drive back M23 fighters after clashes erupted on Sunday afternoon, ending several weeks of relative calm.
The rebel group, which sparked international outcry when it seized Goma in November, said its troops were responding firmly.
The M23 has accused the army and pro-government militia of trying to goad its troops into combat for several weeks.
The fighting comes as the deployment is under way of a new 3,000 strong U.N. Intervention Brigade with a tough mandate to take the fight to armed groups in eastern Congo. The force - which will be made up of troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi - has b
STORY: Democratic Republic of Congo's army clashed with fighters from the M23 rebel group close to the eastern city of Goma Monday for a second day, in what appeared to be the most serious combat for several weeks.
At Muja, a village some seven miles or 11 kilometers from Goma, government forces used heavy weapons to try to drive back M23 fighters after clashes erupted on Sunday afternoon, ending several weeks of relative calm.
The rebel group, which sparked international outcry when it seized Goma in November, said its troops were responding firmly.
The M23 has accused the army and pro-government militia of trying to goad its troops into combat for several weeks.
The fighting comes as the deployment is under way of a new 3,000 strong U.N. Intervention Brigade with a tough mandate to take the fight to armed groups in eastern Congo. The force - which will be made up of troops from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi - has b