The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo announced early Tuesday that it had achieved "total victory" over the M23 rebel movement. "The last elements of the M23 have abandoned their positions in Runyonyi and Chanzu under pressure from FARDC (government forces) who have just entered there," said the country's communications minister and government spokesman in a text message received by AFP. He was referring to two hilltop positions about 80 kilometres north of regional capital Goma where dozens of holdout rebels had dug in.