Government troops battle rebels; 19 die
From Times Wire Reports
Fighting broke out in eastern Congo between government troops and forces loyal to a dissident general, killing at least 18 rebel fighters and a civilian, a U.N. official said.
The region has been the site of sporadic fighting for years, and forces allied with general-turned-warlord Laurent Nkunda battled government troops in late November and early December. More recently, it had been relatively quiet.
The clashes broke out before dawn near the village of Jomba, said Lt. Col. Didier Rancher, a spokesman for the U.N. force.
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