Mutineer soldiers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have threatened to march on the key city of Goma if attacks against civilians in the city do not stop.
One of their leaders said the civilians were being targeted for their alleged allegiance to neighbouring Rwanda.
M23 rebels defected from the army and took up arms in April
He denied allegations made by the UN and DR Congo's government that the ethnic Tutsi rebel group was backed by Rwanda.
Kigali also rejects the claim.
Earlier, the UN said peacekeepers were being redeployed to Goma.
The rebels - who took up arms in April - named themselves "M23" after a failed peace agreement signed on 23 March three years ago.
They are supporters of renegade General Bosco Ntaganda, who is wanted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Gen Ntaganda is an ethnic Tutsi - like the majority of Rwanda's leadership - and a recent UN report accused Rwanda of backing the rebels.
'No democracy' The M23 leadership addressed journalists in Bunagana, a town on the border of Uganda which was captured by the rebels last Friday.
Jean-Marie Runiga Rugerero, who described himself as a bishop, said he was now the leader of the M23's political wing.
He said several other towns that had been seized over the weekend, including the strategic town of Rutshuru, 70km (43 miles) north of Goma, had been handed over to UN peacekeepers.
But he said the rebel withdrawal was dependent on the safety of the civilians."Now about Goma, if civilians aren't protected… We M23 will take over the city of Goma and protect the civilians - the Tutsis, the Balega and the Bashi," he said.
He said Congolese civilians were supportive of their cause and were giving them food, and their ammunition came from the captured towns.
"Our intention is to let the international community know that the problems bedevilling this country are not due to interference from neighbouring countries, the problems facing us are caused by ourselves right here in DR Congo," he said.
"There is total disregard and abuse of human rights here in this country. There is no democracy in this country.
"Look at me, I am a bishop. I didn't join M23 because I was jobless. I have a job. Things have to be changed in this country."
A resident of Goma, Paul Gavichi, told the BBC African Service that the Tutsi community was being harassed - he gave examples of Tutsis being forced off buses and attacked, and said there were allegations of rape.
The UN spokesman in Goma, Alexandre Essone, told the BBC's Focus on Africa that the city was quiet and key areas were under the protection of peacekeepers.
He reiterated claims that the M23 had Rwandan backing, saying that their fighters had new uniforms.
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At the scene
The transit camp close to the border with DR Congo is full to capacity - hundreds of white UNHCR tents are crammed in a space the size of about four football fields. The Ugandan government says there are more than 16,000 people there at the moment - 8,000 arriving after fighting intensified in eastern DR Congo last week. More than 600 Congolese soldiers have also crossed the border after losing a battle with the rebels.
I met Assinate and her five children, who had fled under a hail of gunfire. She is trying to keep her tent clean and tidy, but her mind is taken up with thoughts of the child and husband she left behind in the chaos.
The rebels say they do not want to fight and are calling for negotiations with the government in Kinshasa. But there is a fear that the city of Goma could come under attack.
But many refugees like Assinate do not give much thought to the M23 rebels and their intentions. All they want is to have their lives back.
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