Officials in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have said that rebels and government troops are engaged in heavy fighting near the city of Goma.

More than 70,000 Congolese refugees are believed to have fled into Uganda following separate clashes in eastern part of the country beginning from Sunday evening.

Residents in the area say they are no longer safe and are fleeing to avoid casualties. Some of their houses have been destroyed.

But the  new 3,000 UN-strong intervention brigade set up to neutralize and disarm the rebels says it is prepared to use lethal force to protect civilians if the M23 rebels advanced towards the city of Goma.

M23 rebels pulled out of Goma after briefly seizing the city last year and peace talks between the government and the rebels failed to materialize in Uganda. The rebels thereafter resumed their offensive attacks.

Both sides accused the other of starting the fighting. The army said it began on Sunday at 15:00 (13:00 GMT) and continued for five hours, resuming again on Monday morning.

But rebels say their positions were bombarded all night until 03:00 when the army seized the opportunity and planned further attacks on them.

Rebels’ spokesman Amani Kabasha told reporters that the army had attacked their positions first but failed to say whether they suffered casualties.

“They attacked as first and we replied but what’s important is to go back to Kampala to negotiate. We have been there for six months waiting for President Joseph Kabila but he refuses to talk to us,” he said.

A UN leaked report this month stated that Rwanda is now only providing limited support to the rebels while Uganda has seized to support them but the Rwandan government has denied the allegation.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News