The European Union's special envoy for the Great Lakes region has arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, as part of renewed efforts to broker a peace deal for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The envoy, Aldo Ajello, is due to hold talks with the Ethiopian prime minister, Meles Zenawi, and representatives of the Organisation of African Unity. On his current tour, Mr Ajello is also due to visit Chad, Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. So far efforts to reach a peace deal in Congo, where forces loyal to President Laurent Kabila are fighting Tutsi-led rebels, have failed. The government forces are backed by Angola, Chad, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

The rebels are supported by Uganda and Rwanda.