DR Congo army pushes rebels back
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have pushed rebels back 5km (three miles) at the frontline north of the eastern city of Goma, report agencies.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says the two sides are now separated by a dormant lava field created by a nearby volcano.
In Goma, hundreds of women are expected to join a protest shortly to demand peace and protection for the region.
Aid workers have warned that thousands of people at a camp near Goma should be moved in case fighting breaks out.
More than 60,000 displaced people are at the Kibati camp, close to the frontline separating government troops and rebels loyal to Gen Laurent Nkunda.
Fighting has stopped aid from reaching Kibati and forced many there to flee south to the provincial capital, Goma.
Our correspondent says the frontline is now just beyond two strategic hills, on top of which government forces have placed spotters and artillery.
The distance between the nearest opposing troops is just a few hundred metres, he says.
On the rebel side of the line he saw rebel soldiers consolidating their own, high, ground - more hills from which they could target the government forces on the road below.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in DR Congo wants the two sides to move further apart to minimise the possibility of accidental clashes which could exacerbate the already disastrous humanitarian situation.
There are moves internationally to bolster the peacekeeping presence in DR Congo - at the moment it stands at 17,000 - the world's largest peace mission.
The EU is to consider ways of strengthening the force at a meeting where mounting a humanitarian aid mission to DR Congo is also to be considered, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says the two sides are now separated by a dormant lava field created by a nearby volcano.
In Goma, hundreds of women are expected to join a protest shortly to demand peace and protection for the region.
Aid workers have warned that thousands of people at a camp near Goma should be moved in case fighting breaks out.
More than 60,000 displaced people are at the Kibati camp, close to the frontline separating government troops and rebels loyal to Gen Laurent Nkunda.
Fighting has stopped aid from reaching Kibati and forced many there to flee south to the provincial capital, Goma.
Our correspondent says the frontline is now just beyond two strategic hills, on top of which government forces have placed spotters and artillery.
The distance between the nearest opposing troops is just a few hundred metres, he says.
On the rebel side of the line he saw rebel soldiers consolidating their own, high, ground - more hills from which they could target the government forces on the road below.
The United Nations peacekeeping force in DR Congo wants the two sides to move further apart to minimise the possibility of accidental clashes which could exacerbate the already disastrous humanitarian situation.
There are moves internationally to bolster the peacekeeping presence in DR Congo - at the moment it stands at 17,000 - the world's largest peace mission.
The EU is to consider ways of strengthening the force at a meeting where mounting a humanitarian aid mission to DR Congo is also to be considered, France's Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.