Congolese rebels say they have seized the town of Moliro in fierce fighting, triggering frantic South African efforts to save peace talks aimed at ending three years of civil war.
France accused the rebels' Rwandan backers of sending 10,000 troops against the town in the first major ceasefire violation for a year.
But the Congolese Rally for Democracy says only rebels were involved in its offensive on the small settlement on the southwestern shores of Lake Tanganyika.
They clashed with Congolese government troops and their allies from the FDD rebels from neighbouring Burundi.
The latest fighting threatens to derail peace talks in Sun City, South Africa, aimed at ending a war that has claimed an estimated two million lives.
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