Congolese Tutsi rebels clashed with a local militia group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo today, according to the UN who said its own peacekeepers were in the crossfire between the factions.
A spokeswoman for the UN mission in Congo said the clash took place at Kiwanja near Rutshuru, a town which was captured last week by Tutsi fighters loyal to rebel General Laurent Nkunda in eastern North Kivu province.
General Nkunda declared a ceasefire last week, halting an advance towards the North Kivu provincial capital of Goma, 70 km south of Rutshuru. A unit of Indian and Uruguayan peacekeepers have a position at Rutshuru.
The UN spokeswoman said the firing occurred between the Tutsi rebels and Pareco Mai-Mai militia fighters, which like Nkunda's group had signed a peace deal for North Kivu in January. No more details were immediately available.
Reuters