At Least 26 Killed in Fighting Between Government Forces and Rebels in DRC

Took place in the city Lubumbashi

At least 26 people have been killed in an eight-hour battle between government and rebel forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo's second city Lubumbashi, police say.

The rebels were beaten back on Tuesday morning after heavy fighting overnight, police said.

The city of more than a million people was deserted, police added.

The assault was launched by the Mai Mai Kata Katanga, a secessionist group in the region, police said.

It is fighting for the independence of Katanga, the richest province in DR Congo.