THE Democratic Republic of Congo has severed diplomatic ties with Rwanda as fighting intensifies between Rwanda-backed M23 insurgents and Congolese government forces in Goma.

The war has left at least 13 United Nations peacekeepers and foreign soldiers dead and displaced thousands of civilians.

M23, composed mainly of ethnic Tutsis, has made significant territorial gains along the border with Rwanda in recent weeks, closing in on Goma, the provincial capital, which has a population of around two million.