By Joe Bavier
Goma - Thousands of civilians fled heavy fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo's troubled North Kivu province after clashes erupted before dawn on Thursday between government forces and renegade soldiers.
A thousand fighters loyal to rebel Tutsi General Laurent Nkunda attacked a Congolese army brigade headquarters in Katale, around 60km north-west of the provincial capital Goma, at around 4am, witnesses said.
Exchanges of machinegun and heavy weapons fire continued for more than six hours and sporadic fighting followed. Military sources said 31 soldiers were wounded on the government side.
'We are in favour of a peaceful solution' "Those who are shooting on their comrades are criminals. He (Nkunda) killed in Kisangani, he killed in Bukavu and he continues to kill... He must answer for his acts," Defence Minister Chikez Diemu told Reuters.
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He said two brigades of government soldiers were heading towards Katale, but added: "We must take a responsible approach. We are in favour of a peaceful solution."
Colonel Delphin Kahimbi, army operations commander in North Kivu, told Reuters the insurgents had attacked first.
"We're taking steps this time to finish with this situation, which is beginning to make us look ridiculous," he told Reuters.
Nkunda's spokesperson Rene Abandi denied the insurgents had struck first, blaming the army for provoking the violence.
"We think they're envisaging an apocalyptic scenario. They want to exterminate us," he said.
A witness in Masisi, a nearby town of more than 10 000 residents, said several civilians had been hit by stray bullets and that the population there had fled.
"Masisi has completely emptied of all inhabitants. They've all run away," Jean Kugaya, an aid worker with the relief agency World Vision, told Reuters.
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