M23 rebels and Rwandan troops have made further gains in eastern DR Congo, seizing two towns on the road to Bukavu. The Congolese government called for an emergency meeting of regional leaders to discuss the situation and urged sanctions against Rwanda. Burundi, supporting the Congolese army, warned Rwanda of retaliation if attacked.
GOMA - M23 fighters and Rwanda n troops on Wednesday pushed further into the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, as Burundi warned Kigali it would respond if attacked.
One person living in Kalehe described seeing"numerous" fighters, adding that"We see them moving around without saying a word to people." There was a lull in fighting for two days after the summit, but clashes resumed on Tuesday in Kalehe, around 30 kilometres from the strategic airport of Kavumu, which is still held by Congolese forces.
On Wednesday, RwandAir said DR Congo had shut its airspace to aircraft registered in Rwanda, forcing it to re-route flights.Burundi, which borders both DRC and Rwanda, has sent around 10,000 soldiers to South Kivu to support the Congolese army. Ndayishimiye said earlier this month that he feared the conflict - the latest episode of decades-long turmoil in eastern DRC - could trigger a regional war.
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