Masire continues meetings with Congo rebels

The mediator in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sir Kitumile Masire, is continuing meetings with rebel factions in his bid to bring about a national dialogue.

Speaking at the end of talks in rebel-held Goma, Mr Masire said he was finding much goodwill.

The leader of the Rwandan-backed Congolese Rally for Democracy RCD, Emile Ilunga, had backed his initiative.

But with clashes continuing between government and rebels, and between different rebel groups and their sponsors, a BBC correspondent in Goma says Mr Masire's goal is highly amibitious.

Meanwhile, the military leader of the RCD, Jean-Pierre Ondekane, has said his forces will not leave the northern Congolese town of Kisangani despite an agreement to pull back by Uganda and Rwanda.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service