Congo situation
More than 30,000 Congolese refugees have crossed into neighboring Burundi to escape fighting in eastern Congo, an official said Saturday.
Troops loyal to renegade Colonel Jules Mutebutsi were fighting government forces in remote areas of Congo's troubled South Kivu province -- more than a week after government forces retook the provincial capital from rebel commanders.
Since the government forces returned, refugees have been crossing into Burundi to escape the fighting, said Onesphore Nduwimana, mayor this northwestern town.
"We have been registering at least a thousand refugees a day," Nduwimana said inside a refugee camp.
Most of those in the first wave of refugees were Congolese Tutsi, who feared reprisal attacks because they are members of the same ethnic group as Mutebutsi.
However, they since have been joined by members of other communities fleeing fighting.
Maze Kahindo, 24, said he fled to Burundi with his family Saturday at the sounds of gunfire.
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