Monuc on Wednesday sent soldiers to Minova, which lies around 50 km north of the capital of Sud-Kivu province, Bukavu, which was overrun early this month by so-called dissident soldiers.
The dissident troops -- who have refused to be incorporated into a new DRC army which would bring them under Kinshasa's command -- pulled out of Bukavu a week after seizing the town, and one of their leaders, General Laurent Nkunda, reportedly holed up in Minova, in neighbouring Nord-Kivu province.
Locals began fleeing Minova as rumours circulated that "military reinforcements for General Nkunda" were massing near Nord-Kivu's capital, Goma, MONUC's spokesman in the city, Madnodje Manoubai, told AFP by telephone.
"Hundreds of people have left Minova and gone into hiding in the bush," Manoubai said.
"There is talk in Goma of military reinforcements for General Nkunda," he said, but added the situation in the provincial capital was "calm for the moment."
Minova lies about halfway between Bukavu and Goma.
The Monuc soldiers sent to Minova "did not find (Nkunda), but his soldiers were highly visible," said Manoubai. – Sapa-AFP.
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