Police in South Africa say they've arrested 19 alleged members of the Congo rebel group M23 on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the government there.

The South African Police Service issued a statement Tuesday announcing the arrests, but offered few details other than to say their "objective is believed to be to overthrow the current government" of Congo. The statement said the alleged rebels would appear in court later Tuesday.

Brig. Lindela Mashigo, a police spokesman, could not be immediately reached for comment.

The M23, an armed group said to be backed by Rwanda, is currently in the process of beginning negotiations with the Congolese government. The rebels briefly held and later withdrew from Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in eastern Congo, last year.