Rwandan troops withdraw from Congo

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Rwandan troops celebrated as they began to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo, five weeks after crossing the border to fight Hutu rebels, observers said.

Rwandan forces held a ceremony in the main eastern Congolese city of Goma to mark their exit from the country, the BBC reported Wednesday.

The Rwandan foreign minister declared the joint operation in Congo had dealt a severe blow to the Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda, or FDLR, rebels. But their victory came at a high cost to civilians, United Nations officials said.

The United Nations refugee agency reported at least 32 people were killed by FDLR militias, apparently in retaliation for the military push by 3,000 Rwandan troops allied with government forces sent by DRC President Joseph Kabila.

UN officials warned of a "new wave of displacement" after some 3,000 people fled their villages in the Masisi area of North Kivu, the BBC said.