19 more die in DRC fighting
2007-12-18 21:44
Goma, Dr Congo - The Democratic Republic of Congo army (FARDC) said on Tuesday they had pushed back rebels loyal to rogue colonel Laurent Nkunda in Nord-Kivu after six hours of intense fighting that killed 19.
"There was combat on Monday that lasted more than six hours between the FARDC and the insurgents in Katale," some 50km northwest of Goma, the regional capital, FARDC forces commander General Vainqueur Mayala told reporters.
Another officer in the field confirmed that 17 rebels and two FARDC soldiers had died in the skirmish. "There are people wounded on both sides," said the source, who did not wish to be named.
"The enemy was violently pushed back by FARDC who control Katale as well as the other neighbouring villages."
The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) confirmed on Tuesday that Katale was under control of the army.
"We continue to clean out the hills around Katale," the source added.
Villagers continue to suffer from the rampant violence in the area. Hundreds of people, visibly weakened by hunger, continued to flee on Tuesday towards Minova, a town in Sud-Kivu that borders Nord-Kivu. There are currently 800 000 civilians displaced by the ongoing war, according to the UN.