The rebels have been advancing through eastern DR Congo since January, seizing Bukavu and Goma, the biggest city in the region. The fighting has forced about 500,000 people from their homes, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis, according to the UN.

Blasts at Independence Square in Bukavu occur shortly after Corneille Nangaa, coordinator of Alliance Fleuve, an armed group alliance that includes M23 rebels, addresses gathering - Anadolu Ajansı

(Reuters) -Crowds fled as gunfire rang out at a rally held by the leader of the M23 rebel group, Corneille Nangaa, in Democratic Republic of Congo's eastern city of Bukavu on Thursday, residents said.

Democratic Republic of Congo's government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels traded blame on Friday for several explosions at a rally in the rebel-held eastern city of Bukavu that killed 13 people and wounded scores of others the previous day.

Explosions at a rally held by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Bukavu killed 11 people and wounded 65 others, Corneille Nangaa, head of the rebel alliance that includes M23,

At least 11 people were killed and scores injured Thursday when explosions in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu struck a rally held by leaders of the M23 rebel group, which took control of the city earlier this month.

Explosions killed 11 people and wounded 65 at a rally held by M23 rebels in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu on Thursday, the leader of the rebel alliance said, blaming President Felix Tshisekedi for the violence.