Pray for DR Congo

Rebel 'breaks' DR Congo ceasefire

Children in the area are said to be at risk of abduction Renewed fighting has broken out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Nations has confirmed. Gen Laurent Nkunda, a rebel commander, broke a fragile ceasefire and attacked government forces near Goma, the UN's Sylvie van den Wildenberg said. There has been no word on casualties but over the weekend the fighting displaced some 4,000 refugees. The UN says the situation is "very worrying" and called on both parties to respect the truce called this month. DRC government forces were attacked by the rebels on three fronts, army spokesman Col Delphin Kahimbi told the French news agency AFP. Clashes occurred in three areas in North Kivu province, he added. The rebels say war has been forced on them as President Joseph Kabila has declined to negotiate with them. Refugees The UNHCR site at Bulengo saw some 4,000 people arriving in recent days, Masako Yonekawa, UNHCR head in the nearby town of Goma, told the BBC News website. She said many of the refugees were fleeing from Gen Nkunda's troops, who are accused of looting and abducting children. Ms Yonekawa said the site, about 20km (12 miles) west of Goma, was now housing more than 10,000 people. The UNHCR says more than 300,000 people in the area have been displaced so far this year. Children, it adds, are being forcibly taken from schools to join the rebels, with 280 children reported to have been abducted from one location alone.