The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila, has met the Pope in private at the Vatican.

There are no details of the meeting, which was described as short.

Mr Kabila, who is in Europe to seek support to fight rebels trying to topple his government, will also meet the Italian president.

He goes on to Belgium tomorrow Wednesday where Congolese opposition representatives have protested against his visit.

They say they've filed law suits against Mr Kabila for alleged genocide and crimes against international law.