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 against the rebels trying to topple his government, will also meet the Italian president.

In Belgium, where Mr Kabila is due later today, a Congolese official has asked for assurances from the Belgian authorities that Mr Kabila will not face legal proceedings.

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