KINSHASA, Congo (AP) A Congolese official says the army has regained control of the strategic town of Kibumba, 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the provincial capital of Goma, in eastern Congo.
Congolese army spokesman Lt. Col. Olivier Hamuli said by phone Saturday that the army gained full control of Kibumba Saturday afternoon. He said the M23 rebels retreated in armed vehicles toward the border with Rwanda.
The M23 could not be reached for comment and The Associated Press was not able to reach the fighting.
The fighting broke out early Friday. Each side blames the other for the failure of high-level peace talks in the Ugandan capital.
The M23 launched its rebellion against the government last year and briefly seized Goma, a city of 1 million people.
