"M23 is now in control there. Detonations that shook buildings echoed throughout the morning near Kamanyola, an AFP journalist reported in Bugarama, a border post on the Rwandan side about 2km (1.3 miles) away. On Friday, the M23 accused the Burundian army of firing without interruption into the DRC. A Burundian military source told AFP they were reinforcing their positions to ensure they were not overrun by M23 fighters and their Rwandan backers."
"The fighting is intensifying, the source added, speaking on condition of anonymity. There is a real risk the situation escalates. We are bringing reinforcements to the front because this is a red line for Burundi. The source said his country could not accept it if the terrorists of M23 and their Rwandan backers reach Uvira, a city in DRC less than 30km from Bujumbura, Burundi's biggest city."
"Lines of civilians fleeing the fighting crossed the border in the early hours watched by Rwandan police. The bombs were exploding above the houses, said one witness, Immaculee Antoinette, from Ruhumba, near Kamanyola. We were asked to remain locked inside our houses, but that seemed impossible. Hassan Shabani, an administrative official in Kamanyola, said schools, hospitals and civilian homes were all shelled."
Fresh fighting in eastern DR Congo forced hundreds to flee into Rwanda despite a recent peace deal signed in Washington DC meant to stabilise the resource-rich east. M23 fighters battled the Congolese army in South Kivu province, with thousands of Burundian soldiers deployed alongside government forces. Both sides fought for control of Kamanyola at the tri-border area; M23 captured the town. Detonations shook buildings near the border, and M23 accused Burundian forces of sustained firing into the DRC while Burundi said it was reinforcing positions to avoid being overrun. Civilians crossed into Rwanda after schools, hospitals and homes were shelled.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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