Congo severs ties with Rwanda as eastern conflict escalates

Congo has severed all diplomatic ties with Rwanda and South Africa said on Saturday that nine of its peacekeepers had been killed amid a surge in fighting with Rwanda-backed rebels in mineral-rich eastern Congo.

The three-year M23 insurgency in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has intensified in January with the M23 rebels seizing control of more territory than ever before, prompting the UN to warn of the risk of a broader regional war.

Congo and its allies said on Saturday they had pushed back M23 fighters, who were advancing on the provincial capital Goma. The sound of nearby heavy bombardment rocked the city in the early hours of Saturday.

Congo, the UN and others accuse neighbouring Rwanda of fuelling the conflict with its own troops and weapons. Rwanda denies this, but Congo's army said on Saturday that Rwandan snipers were responsible for the killing of North Kivu's military governor on the front line this week.

Diplomatic ties break down

Congo has recalled its diplomats from Rwanda and asked the Rwandan authorities to cease diplomatic and consular activities in the Congolese capital within 48 hours, according to a letter from the foreign ministry to the Rwandan embassy dated 24 January.

A representative of the ministry on Saturday said the letter represented "the most severe form of diplomatic breakdown."

The Rwandan authorities could not immediately be reached for comment due to the late hour.

In a sign of heightened international concern, the UN Security Council will meet on Sunday to discuss the crisis, diplomats said. It had earlier planned to meet on Monday.

The fierce fighting in recent days killed two South Africans deployed with the UN peacekeeping mission and seven others in the Southern African regional bloc's force in Congo, the South African National Defence Force said on Saturday.

"The members put up a brave fight to prevent the rebels from proceeding to Goma as was their intention," it said.