Fifteen people have been killed and 50 injured on the second day of anti-United Nations protests in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo city of Goma.

Among those killed are three UN peacekeepers and seven protesters.

The United Nations also confirmed that two international policemen serving with the U.N. peacekeeping force were killed and another injured at the U.N. base in Butembo in North Kivu province in the east when violent attackers snatched weapons from Congolese police and opened fire on the U.N. personnel.

It is understood that demonstrators on Monday had set fires and forced entry into the U.N. mission offices in Goma, accusing the peacekeeping forces of failing to protect civilians amid rising violence in Congo’s eastern region.

Further reports also alluded that the protests comes as a result of the escalating war between the Congolese troops and the M23 rebels, which has forced nearly 200,000 people to flee their homes.

Meanwhile, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq outlined that reports of civilian casualties, including reports of U.N. peacekeepers killing and injuring civilians, would be investigated.

In addition, Haq said at least four incidents targeted the residences of MONUSCO staff, who have now been relocated to U.N. camps.