The Democratic Republic of Congo has accused Rwandan soldiers of killing up to 82 people in fighting which took place in the eastern town of Kindu on Thursday.

Mayi-Mayi are civilians who have been resisting the Rwanda occupation.

Rwandan Information Minister Kikaya Bin Kirubi

Speaking to BBC's Focus on Africa, the Information Minister, Kikaya Bin Kirubi, said Rwandan soldiers opened fire on civilians who were celebrating their departure under the terms of a peace deal.

Earlier reports said the clashes involved warriors of a pro-government militia, the Mayi-Mayi, and rebel troops of the Rwandan-backed Congolese Rally for Democracy.

Since Tuesday, Rwanda has been pulling troops out of Kindu, the first stage, it says, in a full withdrawal from Congo.

Security

"Mayi-Mayi are civilians who have been resisting the Rwanda occupation, " Mr Kirubi told the BBC, adding that the Kinshasa government fully supported the tribal warriors.

He dismissed claims that the Mayi-Mayi and the town of Kindu posed a threat to the security of Rwanda.

"Kindu is more than 1,000 kilometres from the border with Rwanda - and I can't see how their security will be threatened from Kindu."

BBC's Mark Dummett in Kinshasa says the market town of Kindu has had a precarious existence for the past four years of war.

Several thousand Rwandan and Congolese rebel troops have been based there, while in the surrounding forests, hostile Mayi Mayi warriors who support the Kinshasa government, have been getting stronger and stronger.

They have regularly launched attacks, but have been fought off each time so far.

Gun fire

Earlier accounts of the incident said a group of Mayi Mayi warriors had entered the town to open negotiations with the controlling rebel authorities, but at some point gun-fire broke out.

Mayi Mayi fighters back President Kabila

Journalists with the Reuters news agency said they saw bare-chested Mayi Mayi fighters wearing tribal charms made from fur and teeth trade heavy machine-gun fire with the rebels.

The journalists heard grenade explosions and saw a Mayi Mayi militiaman shot in the back.

Two rebel soldiers are also believed to have been killed.

Our correspondent says Kindu is now reported to be calm, but it is not clear how the fighting leaves the planned retreat of the Rwandan army from Congo, which is supposed to be completed by the end of next week.