CONGOLESE TROOPS REGAIN M23 REBEL STRONGHOLD

Congolese officials say government troops have recaptured a major town long in the hands of M23 rebels. Fighting in the region has forced thousands of people to flee across the border to Uganda. The seizure of the eastern border town of Bunagana by the Congolese military was confirmed Wednesday by army, government and aid officials. Bunagana was the first town to be seized last year by M23 rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.The Congolese army has already regained control of six other rebel-held towns in recent days as it attempts to crush a 20-month rebellion.The conflict has forced many citizens to flee, with a spokeswoman for the UN refugee agency saying that more than 5,000 people had already crossed the border to Uganda.