A rebel ambush sparks a firefight in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While tracking down insurgents in the eastern part of the country, Congolese soldiers were hit by a rocket attack.

In the ambush, which they said was done by a Ugandan rebel group, the colonel leading the fight against the insurgency was killed.

One soldier said they were still trying to confirm his location.

(SOUNDBITE) (Swahili) UNNAMED CONGOLESE SOLDIER, SAYING:

"We do not know where our colonel is. Yes, we know he was ambushed, but after that we have no other information."

As smoke from the ambushed vehicle drifted into the sky, several soldiers wept over their loss.

The colonel's killing highlights the challenge facing the Congolese government and the thousands of U.N. peacekeepers in the country.