Congolese rebels capture city, offer it to U.N.

MOLIRO, Democratic Republic of Congo (CNN) -- Congolese rebels offered Saturday to withdraw from the port city they captured earlier in the day, and turn control of it over to the United Nations.

Congolese Rally for Democracy captured the village of Moliro after a night of heavy fighting.

U.N. officials serving as observers said they have not received a formal request from the rebels to take control of the village.

Control of Moliro, which is located in a strategic area on Lake Tangayika near the Tanzanian border, has been a major issue in peace talks between the government and the rebels.

The government walked out of talks last week after recent skirmishes, saying it could not discuss peace while under attack.

Government and rebel forces have been at war for more than three years. Six neighboring countries have become involved -- Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi have supported the rebels in their fight against the Congolese government, which is backed by Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia.

Journalist Finbarr O'Reilly contributed to this story.