'10,000 DR Congo refugees have entered Burundi'

NAIROBI:

Burundi on Monday said that close to 10,000 people had fled across its western border from the Democratic Republic of Congo over the last three days as Rwanda-backed forces advance there.

"Those who flee are passing through the official border at Gatumba or cross the river Rusizi," said the interior ministry in a statement.

It said measures were being taken to identify soldiers, civilians and the sick among the refugees and provide shelter with the help of the United Nations refugee agency.

The Rwanda-backed M23 armed group has seized large areas of eastern DR Congo in recent weeks, displacing hundreds of thousands, and this weekend entered the key city of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. AFP