M23 seized Goma, the biggest city in eastern Congo, in late January and then took control of South Kivu provincial capital Bukavu over the weekend. "The Burundian troops are withdrawing from Democratic Republic of Congo.

Countries bordering the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo sought to shore up defences on Wednesday as violence spreads through the region, with Burundi forced to pull back troops and Uganda securing a key city.

Burundian soldiers, who have been fighting against the M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo, were pulling out following the fall of the city of Bukavu, four sources, including a Burundian army officer and two U.