The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government today refused rebel leader Laurent Nkunda’s demand for direct talks to solve the crisis in eastern Kivu province, where tens of thousands of desperate refugees were receiving international aid.

BRITISH Foreign Secretary David Miliband said yesterday he has not ruled out sending troops to the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of a United Nations bid to avert a looming humanitarian disaster.

UN aid convoy delivered vital medical supplies to Congo refugees today for the first time since fighting began weeks ago.

The first humanitarian convoy to go behind rebel lines since violence erupted in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo more than two months ago set off today.

The European Union is proposing a UN-organised summit of the nations bordering eastern Congo, and says Rwanda and Congo would attend such a meeting.

International envoys converged on eastern Congo to help end some of the worst violence in years as thousands of anxious, hungry refugees struggled to get home amid a fragile ceasefire.

FRANCE and the Netherlands reacted swiftly on Saturday to a newly signed peace accord in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with the latter announcing millions of euro in aid to help stabilise the troubled east.

Britain’s Brinkley Mining signed a contract for uranium exploitation in Congo, promising a £1.5m (€2.2m) start-up investment into a partnership with the government.

A former captain in the SAS, accused by Zimbabwe of leading 70 suspected mercenaries in a coup plot against Equatorial Guinea today admitted attempting to possess dangerous weapons and faces ten years in prison.

FRENCH troops arrived in Congo yesterday to prepare the way for an international force charged with stabilising a region wracked by tribal fighting, a UN official said yesterday.

Pope John Paul today decried a massacre in Congo that killed almost 1,000 people and appealed for efforts at reconciliation .

THE leaders of Congo and Rwanda signed a peace agreement yesterday that was hailed as a major milestone in efforts to end a war that has destabilised central Africa and killed millions of people.

CONGOLESE and Rwandan officials announced they had reached an agreement to end a four-year war in Congo that has claimed more than 2 million lives, but rebel leaders warned that peace could remain elusive.

Congolese and Rwandan officials have announced an end to four years of fighting in a war that has claimed more than two million lives.

A UN peacekeeping soldier has been accused of raping a 10-year-old girl in Congo.

Congolese President Joseph Kabila will meet leaders from the country's two main rebel groups later this month.