YAOUNDE, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has expressed support for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the country grapples with armed conflict in its eastern city of Goma.
"Following the worrying development of the situation in the DRC, I would like to express the solidarity, compassion and support of the Republic of Chad towards the DRC, its people, its government and its president, my brother Felix Tshisekedi," the president said on Facebook early Sunday.
Stressing the need for sub-regional, regional and international bodies "to act to preserve peace and security" in the DRC, he added that Chad calls for respect for the DRC's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
According to the United Nations, nearly 3,000 people have been killed and another 2,880 injured during the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels' capture of Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern DRC. M23 claims to have controlled the city since Jan. 26. ■
