President Chiluba of Zambia has announced that a summit aimed at resolving the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo will take place in the Zambian capital, Lusaka, next weekend.

Mr Chiluba said that all countries involved in the war would be represented, along with Congolese rebels -- although at what level they would participate is not yet clear.

The summit, originally planned for the beginning of December, has been repeatedly postponed, mainly over the refusal by the Congolese President, Laurent Kabila, to meet rebel leaders face to face.

Last week, Mr Kabila offered to meet rebel leaders in Kinshasa.