While M23 rebels closed in on Goma, a major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the US, UK and France on Friday called on their nationals to leave the area. Clashes between the Congolese army and rebels have triggered a humanitarian crisis as diplomatic efforts to mediate talks between Congolese and Rwandan leaders have failed.

The governor of Congo's North-Kivu province has died amid escalating tensions as M23 rebels advance towards Goma. Maj. Gen Peter Cirimwami succumbed to injuries sustained while visiting troops on the front line.

The M23, which is supported by thousands of Rwandan troops, briefly seized Goma during its last insurgency over a decade ago, and had stated ( in interviews with our reporters) that it would not do so again.

Luggage on their backs, they trudged all Wednesday morning along the road leading to downtown Goma, fleeing the advancing fighters in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

M23 and government. forces. Zones occupied. by M23. 200 km. kinshasa. Rwanda. Lake Kivu. Map data: OSM, NASA. Sources: military and humanitari

With babies in tow and mattresses over their heads, thousands of displaced people reached the outskirts of the eastern city of Goma, after fleeing M23 rebels who seized the town of Minova this week.

The DR Congo army and M23 on Friday clashed outside Goma as the UK, US and France urged citizens to leave the main city in DR Congo's volatile east, warning the situation could deteriorate rapidly. Clashes erupted early Friday just 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Goma.

When a 25-year-old government worker was asked in 2007 to allow spoiled rice from Rwanda to be transported across the border to eastern Congo, he knew the risks of resisting corruption.

Authorities say the governor of eastern Congo’s North Kivu province has died from injuries sustained in fighting on the front line as M23 rebels close in on Goma.

Intensifying hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo involving the non-state armed group M23 have caused further mass displacement in the mineral-rich region, with fears that the regional capital Goma could come under attack,

Many Congolese see the rebel advance as an invasion of their country by a foreign power in an attempt to seize land and Congo’s valuable rare minerals.