One of the senior leaders of the main rebel movement in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Arthur Zahidi Ngoma, says he is leaving the rebels and will seek a peaceful solution to the war.

Mr Ngoma said the movement, the Congolese Rally for Democracy, did not represent the people of the former Zaire, and hid a military operation originating ouside the country.

The rebels are widely believed to be receiving support from Uganda and Rwanda.

Mr Ngoma previously announced that he was splitting from the RCD in late January, but was persuaded to stay on by the rebel leader, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba.