Government orders ambassador to leave

Congo’s government ordered the Rwandan ambassador to leave the country within 48 hours Saturday after a rapid advance by M23 rebels near their shared border led two more towns to fall under rebel control.

The expulsion of Ambassador Vincent Karega came the same day that M23 rebels doubled the territory they control. Congo has repeatedly accused Rwanda of backing the rebels, an allegation Rwanda has repeatedly denied.

The decision by Congo’s high defense council was expected to further ratchet up tensions between the two countries whose relations have been fraught for decades.