A senior United States envoy has warned of the possibility of another genocide in Central Africa unless a peaceful solution is found to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Susan Rice, made the comment after more than four hours of talks in Kinshasa with President Laurent Kabila.

She said the United States affirmed the need to maintain the integrity of Congo, where ethnic Tutsis began a rebellion in the east of the country in August.

The conflict has drawn in other countries in the region, with Rwanda and Uganda backing the rebels and Angola and Zimbabwe sending troops to support President Kabila.

The American delegation has already visited Angola and is due to go on to Rwanda on Sunday.