THOUSANDS fled eastern Congo’s largest city, Goma, today after Rwanda-backed rebels claimed to have captured the regional hub from Congolese forces.

Fighting in and around the city has escalated in recent days despite calls by the United Nations security council for the insurgents to withdraw.

Gunshots rang out across Goma overnight before dozens of rebels in military uniform marched into the capital of North Kivu province, which sits on the border with Rwanda.