Congo ? Hundreds of Congolese soldiers rampaged through several villages in eastern Congo, raping women and pillaging homes as they pulled back ahead of a feared rebel advance, the U.N. reported Tuesday.

Meanwhile, neighboring Angola said it was mobilizing troops to send to Congo, though Angolan Deputy Foreign Minister Georges Chicoty did not specify how many or what their mission will be.

Southern African regional leaders meeting at a summit Sunday had discussed sending troops to reinforce the scattered Congolese army near Goma. The provincial capital has been besieged by rebels loyal to renegade Gen. Laurent Nkunda since he reached the outskirts.

The rebels have promised to fight any African troops that aid the Congolese army.