Congo troops take back city of Goma
December 04, 2012  03:20

AP: Congolese soldiers took back control of the strategic city of Goma of 1 million, though the rebels who occupied it for two weeks continued to stake out positions just 3 kilometers away, threatening to seize it anew if Congo fails to meet their demands.         

 

Crowds cheered the soldiers as they arrived in Goma's main barracks in trucks, and women rushed forward to kiss the troops. Their return comes 13 days after the city fell to the rebels, who are widely believed to be backed by Rwanda.         

 

In a worrying sign, however, the M23 rebels remained in tactical positions in the hills nearby, saying they werewaiting for the government to respond to their grievances before deciding whether to try to retake the city.         

 

The rebels claim to be fighting for the better implementation of a March 23, 2009, peace accord, which saw them integrated into the national army. Analysts say the real reason for the rebellion is Rwanda's desire to annex territory in the mineral-rich mountains at the border between the two countries.

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