Rwanda has warned it will launch an attack “very soon” on Hutu rebels sheltering in east Congo – an ominous development that raised fears of renewed central African conflict.

Fleeing civilians jammed roads out of an eastern Congo city by the thousands to escape rival ethnic militias battling for control with mortars and machetes.

More than 10,000 terrified civilians were sheltering at a United Nations compound in north-east Congo today as a fierce battle raged around them.

THE UN yesterday confirmed it had found evidence of cannibalism, mass executions, torture and rape