Protesters attack U.N. HQ in eastern Congo

GOMA, Congo (AP) -- Thousands of protesters attacked the United Nations' eastern Congo headquarters on Monday, expressing anger that a U.N. peacekeeping force has been unable to protect them from a rebel attack that has forced tens of thousands to flee.

Protesters lobbed stones and rocks over the wall surrounding the U.N. offices in the provincial capital of Goma.

U.N. spokeswoman Sylvie van den Wildenberg said cars were being damaged and windows were being shattered.

Meanwhile, soldiers fled fighting in what appeared to be a major retreat of government forces being attacked by rebels of renegade Gen. Laurent Nkunda.

Reporters watched the soldiers struggle to make a way through thousands of refugees also fleeing along the main road south from a major army base seized by rebels toward Goma.

Back-to-back wars in Congo spilled into half a dozen neighboring countries and destroyed much of Congo itself by 2002.

But fighting has continued in the east, where several militias operate. Watch park ranger describe the violence »

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