United Nations Radio

The UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) has confirmed that intense fighting broke out Tuesday between the Congolese army and rebels loyal to General Laurent Nkunda.

The fighting took place in Kirotshe, a town near Goma in the east, which has seen several fierce battles in recent days.

The UN mission says that the regular army used rocket launchers and other heavy artillery.

But to ensure that civilians are not harmed, UN peacekeepers interceded with the Congolese troops who agreed to cease fire by the end of the day.

Meanwhile, UN humanitarian agencies and international NGO's are working to restore the delivery of essential medical supplies and services in North Kivu and South Kivu, also in the east.

Deliveries were disrupted by the outbreak of hostilities in late August, leading to the displacement of some 100,000 people.

The movement of humanitarian personnel and relief workers has been greatly affected by the prevailing climate of suspicion. And health facilities have been looted, leaving the population in even more precarious living conditions.

This is Donn Bobb reporting.

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