A rebel alliance claimed the capture of the biggest city in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mineral-rich eastern region this week, pushing back against resistance from government troops backed by regional and UN intervention forces.

Residents in eastern Congo’s largest city of Goma are fleeing after Rwanda-backed rebels claimed to have captured the regional hub from Congolese forces

Rwanda-backed rebels say they captured eastern Congo’s strategic city of Goma, the hub of a region containing trillions of dollars in mineral wealth that remains largely untapped.

Gunfire could be heard across eastern Congo's Goma on Monday as Rwandan-backed rebels said they had seized the city with Congolese soldiers handing over weapons and thousands fleeing into Rwanda. David Doyle has more.

Rebels from the Congolese M23 movement say they have taken control of the eastern city of Goma, following a lightning advance against the army. At least 13 foreign peacekeepers ha