KINSHASA (AFP) — UN helicopters in the Democratic Republic of Congo fired on rebels to prevent them taking control of a town in the east of the country, a statement said Saturday, as fresh clashes broke out.
The statement released by MONUC, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in DR Congo, said its forces "had to intervene on Friday ... to compel the forces of the CNDP to withdraw after an attempt to take control of the town of Masisi."
"After several warning shots, MONUC had to fire on new positions occupied by the CNDP at Kahungole (near Masisi). After this, the CNDP troops withdrew," it added.
There was no indication Saturday of any casualties from the incident at Masisi, which lies some 60 kilometres (35 miles) from Goma, the provincial capital of Nord-Kivu.
Fresh clashes occurred on Saturday between Laurent Nkunda's rebel National Congress for the Defence of the People (CNDP) and the government army at Sake, about 30 kilometres (20 miles) west of Goma, witnesses and military officials said.
"Everyone has fled the town and the army's tanks are retreating," one resident told AFP by telephone.
"The CNDP attacked us from the neighbouring hills," said General Vainqueur Mayala of the DR Congo armed forces.
On Thursday the rebels said they would adopt a UN-proposed disengagement plan only if they began direct talks with Kinshasa.
"There will be no disengagement as long as we don't negotiate directly with the government and in a neutral country," Betrand Bisimwa, of the CNDP political wing, said.
Congolese authorities have insisted that a January peace deal signed with the rebels and local militias in Goma is the sole framework for dialogue.
The CNDP no longer abides by the accord and clashes between the army and rebels resumed late last month. The fighting has displaced nearly 100,000 people, according to UN estimates.
The UN disengagement plan was approved by the government Wednesday, during a meeting at Goma that included senior UN official Alan Doss and DR Congo President Joseph Kabila.
It provides for all sides to returning to the positions they occupied before fighting resumed August 28.
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