At least 36 people died and thousands have sought refuge at a UN base as battles between the army and APCLS militia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo erupted, Wednesday. People headed to the small UN peacekeeping base in North Kivu province as fresh gunfire hit the region, the UN deputy spokesman reported. The Alliance of Patriots for a Free and Sovereign Congo started its first unrest against the government in the1990s, when conflicts in the region left millions dead. Today\'s unrest is a challenge to UN-mediated peace accord, signed on Sunday by 11 African nations, which is aimed at bringing peace to the region.