Thousands of Rwandan troops have started to leave Democratic Republic of Congo five weeks after they crossed the border to attack Hutu rebels.

A ceremony has been held in the main eastern Congolese city of Goma, to mark their withdrawal.

Rwanda's foreign minister says the joint operation "seriously weakened" the FDLR rebels but a BBC correspondent says civilians paid a heavy price.

The rebel presence in DR Congo lies behind years of conflict in the region.

Some of the FDLR leaders are accused of taking part in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, before they fled to DR Congo.

Rwanda has twice invaded its larger neighbour, saying it must take action against the mainly Hutu forces.

But in January, the two countries agreed to take joint action against the FDLR.

The Rwandan forces also arrested Congolese Tutsi rebel leader Laurent Nkunda - a bitter enemy of the Congolese authorities.

Military trucks followed by some 1,500 Rwandan troops on foot crossed the border just before 1200 GMT, reports the AFP news agency.

More than 3,000 Rwandans entered DR Congo in January. Officials say they will all leave by the end of this week.

"You can't say the problem has been resolved. But they [FDLR] have been seriously weakened; their strength considerably reduced," Rwandan Foreign Minister Rosemary Museminali told state radio on Wednesday, reports the AFP news agency.

"If the Congolese troops continue the operation, we don't doubt they will achieve their goal" of annihilating the FDLR, she said.

Retaliation

Lt Col John Numbi, in charge of the joint operation, said nearly 90 Hutu rebels had been killed since the sweep began - but the BBC East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says civilians have paid a heavy price.

Some 32 people were killed by FDLR militias - apparently in retaliation for the joint military push.

The UN refugee agency has warned of a "new wave of displacement" after some 3,000 people fled their villages in the Masisi area of North Kivu - fearing more FDLR attacks.

A UNHCR spokesman on Tuesday told the BBC that the Hutu militias have returned to some of the bases which they had been forced from by the joint operation.

Gunmen are killing civilians, burning houses and raping women in North Kivu province, UNHCR spokesman David Ntengwe told the BBC.

On-and-off fighting involving the FDLR, the army and other militias has forced more than one million people in North Kivu to flee their homes since late 2006.

1. • UN human rights chief announces release date for DR Congo Mapping Report (September 2, 2010)
2. • Key excerpts from UN report on Rwandan army genocide in DR Congo (August 27, 2010)
3. • UN report says Rwandan army committed genocide in DR Congo (August 26, 2010)
4. • UN Security Council calls for urgent action over mass DR Congo rape (August 26, 2010)
5. • UN Defends Inaction on Mass Rapes in Eastern Congo, Government Missing in Action (August 26, 2010)
6. • FDLR Rebels Continue Campaign of Terror in Eastern Congo (August 23, 2010)
7. • Two Suspects Arrested in Attack on MONUSCO Base (August 20, 2010)
8. • Huge DR Congo gold mine to open, displacing 15,000 (July 22, 2010)
9. • Rights Group Says Arms Transport Needs Regulation (July 19, 2010)
10. • Congo Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Independence (June 30, 2010)
11. • U.S. Official Sees Improvement in Africa's Great Lakes Region (May 26, 2010)
12. • Great Lakes regional body calls for free, fair elections in member states (May 23, 2010)
13. • Great Lakes states meet in Uganda over conflict minerals (May 23, 2010)
14. • African Leaders Discuss Nile River Dispute (May 23, 2010)
15. • 54 FDLR Rebels Relocated from North Kivu to Katanga (May 4, 2010)
16. • Mazembe, Esperance, Ahly advance in Champions League (April 3, 2010)
17. • Behind Human Rights Watch Report on LRA, a Plea for MONUC to Remain in the Congo (March 29, 2010)
18. • Ex-rebels take over mineral trade extortion racket (March 11, 2010)
19. • UN: 90 Rwandan Rebels Killed in Eastern DRC (March 10, 2010)
20. • Great Lakes countries to hold economic meeting (February 17, 2010)
21. • U.S. Senator Durbin Calls on Rwanda to Name Rebels Involved in Genocide (February 16, 2010)
22. • UN agency assisting thousands uprooted by insecurity in eastern DR Congo (January 26, 2010)
23. • Peacekeepers Plan Operation Amani Leo with FARDC in North Kivu (January 19, 2010)
24. • DR Congo, Rwanda, Burundi to hold meeting of chiefs of general staff (January 18, 2010)
25. • DR Congo says ex-rebel chief Nkunda to be extradited from Rwanda in 2010 (January 18, 2010)
26. • MONUC outlines cooperation with FARDC in Operation Amani Leo (January 7, 2010)
27. • DR Congo launches 'Amani Leo' military operation (January 2, 2010)
28. • Alan Doss: Human Rights Watch attack on MONUC 'shortsighted' (December 28, 2009)
29. • Blue helmets protect thousands daily, says top UN envoy (December 28, 2009)
30. • DR Congo military says more FDLR rebels killed in North Kivu province (December 18, 2009)

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