Dozens of runaway Congolese soldiers face trial for violence

Congolese authorities will try at least 75 soldiers on Monday for fleeing the advance of M23 rebels into the eastern province of South Kivu and violence against civilians, including murder and looting, the military prosecutor's office said on Sunday.

The United Nations has reported mass violations, including summary executions, gang rape and sexual slavery, following a major M23 advance in late January that led to the capture of eastern DRC's largest city, Goma.

M23 fighters, Congolese soldiers and pro-government militias were all involved, the UN human rights office said.

Congo has not commented on the reports about its troops, but has called on the UN to investigate abuses it blames on M23 rebels and Rwanda.

Rwanda, which denies supporting the group, has denied any responsibility. The M23 rebels did not respond to requests for comment.

Despite announcing a unilateral ceasefire, the rebels have continued to march south towards the South Kivu capital, Bukavu.

Last week, they took control of the town of Nyabibwe, some 70km north of the provincial capital.

The 75 soldiers on trial were arrested for fleeing the frontline after Nyabibwe's capture. They are accused of rape, murder, looting and rebellion, the military prosecutor's office told Reuters.

Others arrested further south on the same charges are expected to join them in the dock, the office said.

A civil society source in Kavumu, a town 35km north of Bukavu and home to the city's airport, said deserting soldiers had killed 10 people, including seven sitting in a bar on Friday evening.

"Acts of looting by our uncontrolled soldiers who have fled in the face of the enemy are still being recorded," said another civil society leader in the area, Leonidas Tabaro.

Provincial army spokesman Nestor Mavudisa said the rogue soldiers would be punished and called on the population to remain calm.

There did not appear to be any significant escalation in fighting over the weekend. Clashes were reported in a national park about 30km from Bukavu, along with other sporadic exchanges of fire in the area.

The well-equipped M23 is the latest in a long line of rebel movements to emerge in Congo's volatile east. The Congolese government says it is a Rwandan proxy, something the rebel group and Rwanda deny.

In an attempt to defuse the crisis, African leaders held an unprecedented joint summit of the East and Southern African blocs last week and urged all parties to engage in direct talks.

Congo's government said on Sunday it had taken note of the decisions adopted during the summit.