GOMA, DR Congo, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group on Tuesday reaffirmed its preference for a political settlement to the crisis in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as its clashes with government forces moved toward Uvira city in South Kivu Province.

At a press conference in Goma, capital of North Kivu Province, Corneille Nangaa, political leader of the Congo River Alliance (AFC), a politico-military coalition allied with the M23, said that the movement "has always advocated a political outcome."

"With or without DRC President Felix Tshisekedi, the AFC/M23 will work to find deep solutions to the root causes of this crisis," he said, accusing the DRC authorities of multiple ceasefire violations.

On Tuesday, artillery and small-arms fire were heard near Uvira, shortly after the rebels seized Kiliba, a town located only a few kilometers from the city.

Didier Kabi, spokesperson for the South Kivu provincial government, confirmed that panic briefly erupted in Uvira amid rumors of the imminent arrival of AFC/M23 rebels.

He said the situation in the city remained calm, explaining that the detonations heard were caused by a demining operation conducted by the Armed Forces of the DRC.

After Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, fell to the M23 in February, provincial authorities were forced to retreat, making Uvira, the province's second-largest city, the temporary administrative center. Uvira, also a key commercial hub, sits near the border with Burundi. Enditem