The sound of heavy fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Government troops are moving toward the front line on Sunday to face off against the rebel M23 group, amid reports of heavy shelling.

Clashes erupted last month after Congolese President Joseph Kabila sought to arrest General Bosco Ntaganda, known as the "Terminator", who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes.

Hundreds of residents have been forced to flee their villages, escaping to areas controlled by government soldiers.

Thousands of others have already fled to Rwanda and Uganda in recent weeks.

The violence has left many children orphaned, and reports of rape are on the rise.

(SOUNDBITE) (Kiswahili) RUTSHURU RESIDENT, MARY NGABIRE, SAYING:

"We are afraid of the ongoing war, women are being raped, and we are not able to go to the farms so we are very afraid."

The ICC has been seeking Ntaganda's arrest since 2006 on charges of conscripting child soldiers into his rebel militia.

It announced new charges this week including murder, ethnic persecution and rape.

Travis Brecher, Reuters