French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has arrived in Congo's capital Kinshasa, an official at the presidency said on Thursday, as Rwanda-backed rebels consolidated control of Goma in the east of the African country.

KINSHASA/PARIS - France's foreign minister was due in Rwanda on Thursday after talks in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of efforts to prevent a regional escalation following the capture of the eastern Congolese city of Goma by M23 rebels and Rwandan troops.

Protesters have attacked several embassies in DR Congo's capital Kinshasa, including the French one, during demonstrations on Tuesday against the escalating conflict in the country's east. Congo's

Paris has condemned an attack on its embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa. The attack came amid demonstrations against the escalating conflict in the country's east.

Dozens of demonstrators have attacked several foreign embassies, including those of Rwanda, France and Belgium, demanding that they oppose the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels into a major city in

The United States of America is pulling its citizens out of Democratic Republic of Congo after a riotous mob attacked its embassy in Kinshasa on Tuesday. The embassy, in an alert to US citizens in the country, also announced that it was closed for business.

France has led European Union condemnation of attacks on embassies in Kinshasa. Germany said it had canceled planned consultations with Rwanda over alleged support for the M23 rebels, whose advance sparked the violence.

Rioters stormed embassies and started fires in Democratic Republic of Congo's capital Kinshasa, drawing tear gas from police, in an eruption of protests over a Rwandan-backed rebel offensive in the east.

Many blame the United States, France and other allies for allowing neighboring Rwanda to fuel a conflict in the country’s east.

Rebels seized the airport of east Congo's largest city, Goma, on Tuesday, potentially cutting off the main route for aid to reach hundreds of thousands of displaced people, after capturing the city in an offensive that left dead bodies lying in the streets.

Brussels Airlines cancelled its Wednesday flights to and from Kinshasa amid violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital, as anger spilled