Democratic Republic of Congo's M23 rebels are moving south towards Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province, in what appears to be an attempt to expand their area of control in the country's east after capturing the city of Goma.

Rwanda-backed M23 rebels faced pockets of resistance from army and pro-government militia overnight after entering eastern Congo's largest city Goma in the worst escalation of a conflict that has run for more than a decade.

Congolese forces were losing control of the key city of Gom a on Wednesday after rebel groups backed by Rwanda took over the airport and shared plans to set up a new administration. Soldiers fighting for Congo - many of them mercenaries from other nations - were laying down their weapons at the border with Rwanda.

GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Nearly 300 foreign mercenaries hired by the Democratic Republic of Congo government to counter a swift offensive by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels in the east have surrendered and were on their way home on Wednesday.

The Congolese government says the attacks on foreign embassies showed anger at Western inaction as Rwanda-backed rebels overran Goma. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine pushes back against the perception that France shares some blame for the situation due to its aid to Rwanda.