Nearly 3,000 people were killed over the last week as rebels captured a key city in one of the deadliest battles in the Central African country in decades.

Rebels in eastern Congo's largest city, Goma, began a ceasefire on Tuesday and people rushed to bury some 2,000 victims of last week's battles for the city as they feared the spread of disease.

Rebel groups, including the M23 rebels, have declared a humanitarian ceasefire in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At least 900 have been killed and nearly 3,000 others injured in recent fighting around the city of Goma,