BREAKING NEWS

At least 19 killed in clashes at Congo army base

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo -Congolese soldiers and rebels clashed at an army base in easternCongo, the government and a rebel said on Wednesday, killing atleast 19 people in the latest outbreak of violence that hasforced tens of thousands to flee their homes.

The government said the attack had been carried out by MaiMai fighters, linked to ex-rebels who were at one pointintegrated into the army but deserted in recent weeks to protestKinshasa's decision to arrest a renegade general, BoscoNtaganda.

Their uprising is believed to have dragged in gunmen fromneighboring Rwanda, complicating fragile relations between thetwo nations. Clashes in the last two months have forced over100,000 people to flee their homes.

The attack by Mai Mai fighters loyal to General KakuleSikula Lafontaine on Tuesday morning targeted an army base inthe Lubero territory of North Kivu province, governmentspokesman Lambert Mende said.