A "large number" of peacekeepers have been killed and wounded in an attack in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, the UN's peacekeeping chief said.

UN attack helicopters targeted M23 rebels in eastern Congo after fighting resumed following a months long lull in violence, a local official said.

A PLANE carrying UN staff and peacekeepers crashed yesterday on landing at the airport in Congo’s capital, breaking into pieces and killing at least 26 people, aviation officials said.