Thousands of civilians flee rebel advance in DR Congo

SAKE, DR Congo (AFP) - The United Nations (UN) expressed shock Friday at the sight of thousands of civilians fleeing a rebel advance in the eastern DR Congo and appealed for access to help those caught up in the violence.

And in what would be a major first for its peacekeeping operations, the UN said it was considering using drones to monitor the fighting between the military and the M23 rebels.

Regional leaders were heading for Kampala meanwhile for a summit Saturday on the latest crisis in the mineral-rich region.

The rebels captured Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, on Tuesday before taking the key town of Sake 20km to the west the next day, forcing thousands more people to take flight.