KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — Congo's newest rebel movement is threatening to attack the army in a major eastern town that the insurgents had handed over to police and United Nations peacekeepers.
A statement Friday from the M23 rebels called for the government's soldiers to leave Rutshuru and neighboring Kiwanja or "be held responsible for all related consequences."
Rebels had taken Rutshuru Sunday without a fight. The rebels vacated the town voluntarily Monday, saying they were retreating to the Congo-Uganda border crossing of Bunagana to await word on the government's willingness to negotiate.
The government in Kinshasa has said it will negotiate only with Rwanda, which is accused of supporting the rebels. Rwanda denies the charges but agreed this week to "a neutral international force to eradicate" all rebels and militias in eastern Congo and patrol their common borders.
