The president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila, has said he's ready to open peace talks and to immediately sign a ceasefire.

In a communique, jointly signed with the president of Chad, Idriss Deby, both leaders appealed to the international community to support the initiative by sending peace-keeping forces, led by the Organisation of African Unity and the United Nations.

Mr Kabila's army has been fighting rebel troops since August last year. .