We won't retreat, Congolese rebels say

After regional authorities gave them until Friday at 18:00 local time to stop firing and leave their positions or face a regional force, the M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have indicated they will not leave their positions.

Canisius Munyarugerero, their spokesman, told the BBC Great Lakes that the group is disobeying the choices made on Wednesday in Luanda, the capital of Angola, since "we were not invited to that conference" to talk about the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Leaders from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, and the conflict's mediator, former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, met in Luanda during a meeting the Angolan leader organized.

We M23 do not identify as Burundian, Rwandan, Kenyan, or even Angolan.

They tell us to withdraw to where while we are Congolese and at home? Mr. Munyarugero took a picture.

The M23 now controls a significant portion of the North Kivu province and poses a threat to Goma, the capital of the eastern Congo.

They held positions at Sabinyo Volcano near the Rwandan border until the violence erupted again.

The Luanda meeting determined that regional forces would be sent to the eastern DR Congo to enforce the deadline if M23 did not adhere to it.

Mr. Munyarugerero said when asked if they were prepared to face a regional force: "Just know that we won't retreat."