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DR Congo Ministry of CommunicationCopyright: DR Congo Ministry of Communication

At least six people were killed and 15 others wounded after an explosion in a bar at the Katindo military camp in Goma, in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The communication ministry tweeted on Thursday night that the number of the victims was provisional, while correcting an earlier higher death toll announced by government spokesman Patrick Muyaya.

Among the victims are a lieutenant colonel and his wife, a captain, the owner of the bar and her friend, as well as a 12-year-old teenager.

The circumstances surrounding the blast are being investigated by local authorities.

In late 2020, the government announced that the Katindo military camp would be relocated outside the city to reduce its proximity to Goma’s population of two million people. This however is yet to be implemented.

The DR Congo army is battling multiple rebel groups in the east – but it’s not clear yet whether the explosion was the result of an attack.

The North Kivu provincial military governor has called on people to be calm and avoid speculation pending investigations.

EPACopyright: EPA

Morocco and Spain have announced they have turned a new page in relations - after Madrid pledged support for Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed Western Sahara.

During a meeting in Rabat, King Mohammed and the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said they were willing to usher in a new phase, "based on mutual respect, mutual trust, permanent consultation and frank and faithful co-operation".

In a statement, Mr Sanchez reaffirmed the autonomy plan as a realistic option for Western Sahara.

Morocco considers the former Spanish colony its own.

But the Algeria-backed Polisario Front wants to establish its own state.

• Find out more about Western Sahara

Friday's Financial Times leads with reports that aluminium producer Rusal has become the first Russian group to call for an inquiry into alleged war crimes in Ukraine.

Ukraine says more than 300 civilians were killed by the Russians in Bucha, although Moscow denies any involvement.

Unlike a number of other Russian companies, Rusal is not the target of sanctions, although its billionaire founder Oleg Deripaska is.

The war in Ukraine and the backlash against it have also wreaked havoc on Rusal's supply chains.

In a statement on Wednesday, it wrote that it was shocked by reports from the city of Bucha in recent days.

"We support an objective and impartial investigation of this crime and call for severe punishment for the perpetrators. No matter how hard it may seem in the context of ongoing information war," it said.

The company also called for "an early peaceful resolution of this conflict, to preserve priceless human lives and return to normalcy."