Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have seized control of the town of Nyabibwe in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's South Kivu province, eight sources said on Wednesday - an apparent violation of a unilateral ceasefire they declared this week.

Congo’s government has described the unilateral ceasefire declared by Rwanda-backed rebels in eastern Congo as “false communication,” while the United Nations on Tuesday noted reports of heavy fighting with Congolese forces in the region.

A rebel group that claimed to have captured the city of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo last week has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, after fighting with the Congolese military has left hundreds of people dead.

Rebels in eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, began a ceasefire on Tuesday and people rushed to bury some 2,000 victims of last week's battles for the city as they feared the spread of disease. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who captured Goma declared a ceasefire on Monday and largely upheld it,

The alliance of rebel groups in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have declared a humanitarian ceasefire starting on Tuesday. In a statement, the group - which includes the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels - cited "humanitarian reasons" for the ceasefire,

The M23 rebels who seized eastern Congo’s key city of Goma have announced a unilateral ceasefire in the region for humanitarian reasons. The rebels said the ceasefire would start Tuesday.

Rebel groups, including the M23 rebels, have declared a humanitarian ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 900 have been killed and nearly 3,000 others injured in recent fighting around the city of Goma,