Malawi and Uruguay said four of their troops were killed in clashes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo against Rwandan-backed rebels, bringing the death toll among United Nations and southern African peacekeepers to at least 13 by Sunday.

Nine United Nations peacekeepers in eastern Congo sustained injuries during fighting with the M23 armed group, the U.N. said, as the rebels close in on Goma.

Thirteen soldiers serving with peacekeeping forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been killed in clashes with rebels from the M23 group. The South African military said nine of its soldiers died helping to push back a rebel advance on the city of Goma,