Rebels from the M23 movement and the army fought Monday just north of Goma, a regional capital in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which the rebels occupied briefly last November, both sides said.

The fighting was the first involving M23 since December and erupted just two days before UN chief Ban Ki-moon was due to visit the region, including Goma, the capital of North Kivu province.

An M23 spokesman, Amani Kabasha, said the unrest broke out 12 kilometers north of Goma. Colonel Olivier Hamuli, spokesman for the DRC's armed forces, confirmed the fighting was taking place.

The Congolese army (FARDC) opened fire because of a suspected maneuver by M23 rebels to try to reach a road north of Goma, a Western military source said, adding that the army sustained casualties but held their position.

M23's political chief, Bertrand Bisimwa, said the battle first started because Rwandan Hutu rebels of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) had taken an M23 position at Mutaho.

AFP