Congo and Rwanda agree peace

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.

The conflict in the Congo -- dubbed Africa's World War -- sucked in the armies of six nations, split the vast country into rebel and government-held regions, and killed an estimated two-and-a-half-million people, mainly through disease and hunger.

"No more blood must run," Congolese President Joseph Kabila said before signing the agreement with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in a ceremony in South Africa.