CEOAFRICA gathered that the mood on the border town of Bunagana is very tense now as fresh fighting has erupted in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo as government forces try to clear the last areas held by M23 rebels.

According to source, missiles are being fired and thousands of refugees have fled into Uganda.

 The latest violence follows a string of victories by government troops who have driven rebels from all towns they once controlled during a 20-month rebellion.

Peace talks in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, broke down last month following two months of negotiations.

On Sunday, M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa had called for a ceasefire to "allow the continuation of the political process".

He urged rebel commanders to "ensure the strict observance of this order".  Source however says there is no sign a ceasefire has taken effect.

In a statement by the M23 on Monday, it however said that the government had launched a new assault using "heavy arms".

The M23 movement is named after a 23 March 2009 peace deal that ended four years of rebellion in eastern DR Congo.

They took up arms once more in April 2012, accusing the government of not respecting the agreement.

The rebels briefly occupied the eastern Congolese city of Goma in November 2012 before pulling out under international pressure.

Government forces have been backed by a UN intervention brigade deployed earlier this year to confront the M23 and other armed groups.