The rebels fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo have elected a new leader in an attempt to unite their movement in its war against President Laurent Kabila.

The new leader, Emile Ilunga, a medical doctor, replaces Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, who's still disputing his dismissal in a power struggle on Sunday.

A BBC correspondent in the region says Dr Ilunga was a somewhat surprise choice; since helping to found the rebel movement last August, he's maintained a low profile, heading its health department. Dr Ilunga comes from the same province of Katanga as Mr Kabila and played an important military role in the rebellion which brought the President to power.