The Rwandan-backed rebels' entry into Bukavu follows their capture of Goma, defying international calls for a ceasefire.

The M23 rebel group has captured the airport serving Bukavu, a key city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, as they push forward despite international calls for a ceasefire. The rapid advance of the Rwanda-backed rebels has already displaced hundreds of thousands in recent weeks.

M23 fighters and Rwandan troops seized the airport serving Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, security and humanitarian sources said.

The Rwandan-backed M23 group on Friday advanced south after seizing the biggest city in mineral-rich eastern DR Congo, in violence that according to the United Nations has killed at least 700 people in less than a week.

M23 fighters and Rwandan troops entered the DR Congo provincial capital of Bukavu on Friday, security and humanitarian sources said.

M23 fighters on Friday seized the airport serving Bukavu in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, just as African leaders gathered for crisis talks on the escalating crisis.

If the rebels capture the capital of South Kivu province, it would represent an unprecedented expansion of territory under their control Rwandan-backed M23 rebels appeared on Friday to be closing in on eastern Democratic Republic of Congo's second-largest city,