The Democratic Republic of Congo says it has cut diplomatic ties with Rwanda.
The decision comes as a rebel group operating in the East of the country, the M23 killed a dozen UN peace-keepers in confrontations around Goma, the regional capital of North Kivu.
South Africa lost nine troops, with Malawi having 3 of its soldiers killed in the attack.
The UN has condemned the rapid escalation of fighting in the last few days which has seen tens of thousands of civilians flee further west.
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The military governor of North Kivu who was reportedly on the frontlines of fighting with his troops was killed by the M23 rebels.
The Congolese government has renewed its accusations that the mainly Tutsi-dominated rebel group is aided by Rwanda, its smaller neighbour .
The Paul Kagame government has repeatedly denied this countering that it is the Congolese authorities which back the FDLR, another group accused by the Rwandese of being remnants of the Hutu militia responsible for the 1994 genocide.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
