MONUC - Rebels, army clash in east Congo, amid worsening humanitarian crisis.

...government troops battled rebels for a third day straight amid a worsening humanitarian crisis that has displaced nearly 200,000 people in the past few months, a U.N. military spokesman said.

Clashes between the army and insurgents loyal to rebel leader Laurent Nkunda erupted early Friday around Rugari, about 35 kilometers (20 miles) north of the regional capital, Goma, said Maj. Viveck Goyal, a spokesman for the 18,000-strong peacekeeping force.

"The initial information we have is that the Nkunda elements are being pushed away from Rugari," Goyal said.