The Rwanda-backed rebels who seized a major city in eastern Congo declared a unilateral ceasefire Monday, citing humanitarian grounds, but there was no sign of them giving up control of Goma at the heart of a region home to trillions of dollars in mineral wealth.

The World Health Organization said that at least 900 bodies were recovered from the streets of Goma as of last Friday following five days of fighting in which the M23 rebels took control of the city.

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels asserted their control over east Congo's largest city Goma on Thursday by calling on residents to resume normal life, even as the group clashed with Congolese troops as they tried to take more territory.