The rebels have been trying to push south toward Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, since they seized Goma, the largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, at the end of last month. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi will not attend the African Union summit focusing on efforts to halt the conflict, his spokesperson Tina Salama said. The conflict will be high on the agenda at the annual two-day meeting in the Ethiopian capital.
On the ground, rebels seized the town of Katana on Friday morning, according to an M23 source, a resident and a civil society leader. A video taken by the resident showed armed men in fatigues walking through Katana. The town of Kabamba, north of Katana, was taken on Thursday, according to the same M23 source, civil society leader, and a resident who said that cellular networks were down there.
Two people who work at the airport said it had been emptied and effectively closed, with Congolese forces removing equipment, including an aircraft. Rebel leader Corneille Nangaa said the rebels had been attacked and were defending themselves. After the fall of Goma, protesters in Kinshasa attacked a UN compound and embassies, including those of Rwanda, France, and the US, expressing anger at what they said was foreign interference.
Looters ransacked the embassy of Kenya. Hadi Matar, 27, is charged with attempted murder and assault in the August attack at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York. He faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted. Rushdie, 77, was the key witness during testimony that began last week.
The Booker Prize-winning author told jurors he thought he was dying when a masked stranger ran onto the stage and stabbed and slashed at him until being tackled by bystanders. Rushdie showed jurors his now-blinded right eye, usually hidden behind a darkened eyeglass lens.
