Goma, which the rebels captured last week with the support of troops from neighboring Rwanda, has been “liberated and sanitized” and different administrative heads have been appointed, Corneille Nangaa, the M23's political leader, told thousands gathered at the stadium.

The U.N.’s top human rights body is holding an urgent session on spiralling violence in eastern Congo, where Rwanda-backed rebels recently captured a major city

The conflict in DR Congo intensifies as M23 rebels, backed by Rwandan troops, advance towards South Kivu province. Congolese forces are preparing to defend Kavumu, the last stronghold before Bukavu, the provincial capital.