UN peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have threatened to fight back if rebel troops under Laurent Nkunda advance any farther toward the UN-defended town of Sake, a major town in the Nord-Kivu province.
During a week of fierce fighting, DR Congo government troops have been pushed back by rebel troops from positions near the eastern border with Rwanda. They retreated alongside fleeing civilians.
But the UN has warned rebel troops not to continue their advance.
‘They have reached the limit,’ said Major Prem Tiwari, a spokesperson for the UN mission in the DRC. ‘If they try to go further, if they fire towards us, we will open fire. We have a mandate to protect the population and Sake town.’
Government forces have been involved in skirmishes with around 4,000 troops loyal to Mr Nkunda since the end of August, as they attempt to force the rebel militia to disarm.
The DRC defence minister said the rebel successes won’t last, and the retreat of government forces is just at attempt to regroup. But residents of the war-torn region said that the retreat of government forces looked disorganised.
