Two U.N. peacekeepers from South Africa were killed in fighting with M23 rebels in eastern Congo, a United Nations official said Saturday. The South African peacekeepers were killed Friday, the U.N. official told The Associated Press,

(Reuters) -Nine South African soldiers have been killed in eastern Congo's conflict zone, the South African defence department said on Saturday, as Congolese troops and peacekeepers battled to stop an advance by Rwanda-backed rebels on the city of Goma.

Rebels from the Rwanda-backed M23 have killed a military governor as they advanced through eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the army confirmed on Friday. Maj Gen Peter Cirimwami, North Kivu's Governor, was shot by M23 fighters when visiting the frontline on Thursday.