M23 rebels in eastern Congo claimed to have seized a second airport in the region following a days-long advance on Friday, as the U.N. warned that the recent escalation of fighting with government forces has left 350,000 internally displaced people without shelter.
The militants’ progress comes despite international calls for a ceasefire and a resumption of peace talks.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced in recent weeks as a result of the rebel advance.
Last month, the M23, which is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, seized Goma, the main city in the mineral-rich east.
In the fighting for the airport, which is in the town of Kavumu, the Congolese army and its allied militia withdrew without putting up much of a fight.
The rebels are now some 30km (19 miles) from Bukavu, which is the capital of South Kivu province. Its deputy governor, Jean Elekano, said that there was heavy fighting between the army and the M23 on the outskirts of the city. Reports said.
He said the army was still in control and fighting back.
The news of the latest advance comes as the continent’s heads of state are due to meet at an African Union (AU) summit in Ethiopia.
The head of the AU commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying that a ceasefire “must be observed.” Adding that “military campaigns are not going to solve these problems. There is a general mobilisation of Africa today on this issue, and I hope that we will be able to impose this ceasefire. “
As well as being accused of backing the rebels, which Rwanda has denied, the country is also said to have its own troops in eastern DR Congo.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame has said his country’s priority is security. He has said Rwanda is in danger from Hutu rebels in DR Congo and has dismissed any threat of sanctions.
The Congolese government has accused Rwanda of illegally annexing a large slice of the mineral-rich territory.
BBC/Shakirat Sadiq
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