After 3 UN peacekeepers were killed in eastern Congo, Guterres emphasised that attacks against UN staff may constitute a war crime United Nations chief Antonio Guterres called on Sunday on Rwandan forces to withdraw from Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and halt support for fighters advancing on the key Congolese city of Goma.

M23 rebels, reportedly backed by Rwanda, claimed control of Goma, the largest city in eastern Congo, early Monday. This development comes as the Congolese government cut diplomatic ties with Rwanda, with Congolese spokesman Patrick Muyaya calling the situation a "declaration of war.

Gunshots rang out Sunday night in the centre of the besieged Congolese city of Goma, AFP journalists heard, after the Democratic Republic of Congo accused Rwanda of sending fresh troops across the border to capture the strategic hub.

The UN chief Antonio Guterres said Rwanda was backing M23 rebels as they advance towards the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. DW has more.

Fighting with M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo left six United Nations peacekeepers dead, UN officials said Saturday.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, called on Sunday on Rwandan forces to withdraw from Congo and halt support for fighters advancing on the key Congolese city of Goma.

M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo were reported to have taken the key eastern city of Goma in fierce fighting with government forces that sent streams of refugees fleeing area communities.

United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Sunday urged Rwanda to withdraw its forces from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where fierce fighting raged as Kigali-backed fighters closed in on the major city of Goma.

"We are deeply concerned by the situation in South Kivu particularly, which remains very volatile, with credible reports that the M23 is moving rapidly towards the city of Bukavu," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at a daily briefing. Bukavu is the capital of South Kivu province.

The United Nations said Thursday it was concerned by “credible reports” that the Rwanda-backed armed group M23 was advancing south in the Democratic Republic of Congo after capturing most of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday talked over the phone with the presidents of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)