Twelve victims of a deadly blast at a rally last week in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo were laid to rest on Tuesday in a ceremony organized by newly appointed rebel authorities. The incident took place last Thursday in the city of Bukavu that has been under the control of Rwanda-backed M23 rebels since February.

Democratic Republic of Congo's government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels traded blame on Friday for several explosions at a rally in the rebel-held eastern city of Bukavu that killed 13 people and wounded scores of others the previous day.

Explosions killed 11 people and wounded 65 at a rally held by M23 rebels in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu on Thursday, the leader of the rebel alliance said, blaming President Felix Tshisekedi for the violence.