THE Democratic Republic of Congo has asked the UN Security Council to place sanctions on Rwanda's defence minister and two top military officials for backing an army mutiny.

M23 rebels – who have links to Bosco Ntaganda, a warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges – have been fighting government soldiers in North Kivu province since April, displacing about 470,000 civilians.

The three officials are accused of being "in constant contact with M23". Rwanda has repeatedly rejected the allegations.

■dr congo