The United States, France and Britain pressured Rwanda on Sunday over its support for rebels rapidly closing in on eastern Congo's largest city, as government forces struggled to halt an offensive that has forced thousands of civilians to flee.

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

A conflict that has raged for decades reached a flashpoint this week when rebels backed by Rwanda marched on a key Congolese city in a bid to occupy territory and exploit minerals.

Rwanda, which diplomats say backs M23 fighters who seized Goma in Democratic Republic of Congo this week, called on Wednesday for a ceasefire across eastern Congo and for Congo to negotiate with the rebels while denying Rwandan troops were involved.

France criticizes Rwanda's support of the M23 rebel offensive in the Democratic Republic of Congo. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urged for fighting to cease and dialogue to resume. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of peacekeepers and displaced thousands,

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

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.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels asserted their control over east Congo's largest city Goma on Thursday by calling on residents to resume normal life, even as the group clashed with Congolese troops as they tried to take more territory.

The fresh offensive by the M23 rebels and Rwanda forces in Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) coincides with the first anniversary of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the European Union (EU) and Rwanda to cooperate on the supply of "critical minerals.

Congolese security forces on Tuesday tried to slow the advance of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels who say they have captured Goma after entering eastern Congo's largest city, as U.N. officials reported violence,

DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi insisted his troops were mounting a "vigorous" response to Rwanda-backed fighters advancing in the country's perennially troubled east and slammed the international community's "silence and inaction". All the while, President Paul Kagame warns Rwanda is ready for "confrontation" as he rejected criticism over his backing for M23 rebels. For in-depth analysis, FRANCE 24's Oliver Farry welcomes Dr Manenji Mangundu, Oxfam International Country Director for the DRC.