As the M23 crisis has unfolded in the eastern Congo, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice has emerged as a holdout within American foreign policy, a sort of minority report to the prevailing criticism of Rwanda and the M23.

The first indication of this emerged in June, when Rice delayed the publication of UN Group of Experts' interim report, insisting that Rwanda be given a chance to see the report first and respond. While these UN investigations are supposed to give the accused the opportunity to respond and explain--the Group says it was refused meetings by the Rwandan government, which Kigali denies--they rarely allow them to see the entire report before publication. In any case, the Group finally did brief a Rwandan delegation in New York in June in New York ...

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(Photo: Gen. Gabriel Amisi Kumba aka Tango-Four, suspended FARDC Chief

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Evidence of Rwandan state support for M23 rebels 'credible and compelling', ministers say

British aid for Rwanda may be cut next month after ministers admitted there was "credible and compelling" evidence of Rwandan state support for rebels operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

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Goma has fallen to rebels. Who are they, and what does it mean for peace prospects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?

What is the state of the fighting in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo?

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UK development secretary Justine Greening is expected to decide in mid-December on the future of aid to Rwanda. What do you think she should do?

Maeve Shearlaw

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GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo -- Residents settled into an uneasy calm today "under our new masters," a day after mutineers from the Congolese army, now leaders of the M23 military wing, forced government troops, or FARDC, out of the city and took control of the lucrative border crossing between Congo and Rwanda. While over a thousand people flocked to Goma stadium to hear from the M23 leaders about their plans, Congolese President Joseph Kabila, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni held emergency meetings in the Ugandan capital aimed at stemming the widening crisis.

"The journey to liberate Congo has started now," M23 spokesman Vianney Kazarama told the crowd gathered at the rally. "We're going to move on to Bukavu and then to Kinshasa. Are you ready to ...

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UN and western governments signed up to false accord, leaving the people of DRC at the mercy of their tormentors

When the provincial capital of Goma in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo fell to rebel forces yesterday, the rapidity of the rebel advance was shocking, but the fait accompli failure of both Congo's armed forces and the country's United Nations mission was not.

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This article has been updated.

The escalation we've all been fearing has taken place. How did this unfold? Here is a rough timeline, including some possibly unrelated events:

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Alex reports updated.

Mortar shelling from Rwanda on the perimeter of Goma airport erupted

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M23 militia, which UN says has Rwandan backing, closes in on city in eastern Congo as army weakens

Rebels with the alleged backing of Rwanda threaten to invade the biggest city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, with UN peacekeepers appearing powerless to stop them.

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