Government forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo say they have started a counter-offensive against the strategic town of Kindu, which fell to rebel forces five days ago.

The health minister, Jean-Baptiste Sondji, said that government troops had begun a bombardment of Kindu on Friday morning and that there had been fierce fighting.

There was no independent confirmation of an attack on the town, which is an important gateway to the south of the country.

Meanwhile, the new United States ambassador in Kinshasa said that the US condemned military interference in the Democratic Republic of Congo by Rwanda and Uganda.

President Laurent Kabila has accused those two countries of providing support to the rebels during their ten-week campaign against his government.