GOMA, Congo (AP) — Panic spread in eastern Congo's main city on Thursday, with M23 rebels steadily inching closer to Goma and seizing a nearby town as they battle the Congolese army. Bombs were heard going off in the city's distant outskirts and hundreds of wounded civilians were brought in to the main hospital from the area of the fighting.

Congolese helicopter gunships swooped low over the plains to fire volleys of rockets and troops trucked towards the front line to halt Rwanda-backed fighters advancing on DR Congo's eastern provincial capital after capturing a string of towns.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame criticises the international community for looking away from the real problem causing the DRC war.

The Congolese army acknowledged on 21 January the advance of M23 rebels in South Kivu province. Backed by Rwanda’s army, the rebels have captured a key town and are trying to isolate Goma as the Angola-led mediation efforts stall.

The former US administration says Rwandan President Paul Kagame's government rebuffed a proposed peace incentive for a deal between DR Congo and Rwanda. It involved expanding the Lobito Corridor to the eastern DRC.

Türkiye is ready to provide any support needed to resolve the dispute between Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo, should both parties desire it, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

At a time of rising populism and increasing opposition worldwide to immigration from countries wracked by poverty and civil war, Chanoff says his work is more urgent than ever.

Angola had been mediating talks between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame until they broke down in December - Anadolu Ajansı

Amnesty International has accused Congo's army and a rebel group of bombing densely populated areas in attacks that "likely constitute war crimes."

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo have taken over the key eastern trading town of Minova, according to various sources. The fall of the city puts the rebels within 40km (25 miles) of provincial capital, Goma, which lies close to the border with Rwanda.

Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi says he is ready for dialogue to resolve the crisis in the eastern parts of the country, but the talks must not include the M23, who Kinshasa has labelled terrorists.

Tutsi-led M23 rebel group claims to defend Tutsi interests against ethnic Hutu militias whose leaders are linked to genocide of Tutsi in Rwanda - Anadolu Ajansı