Presidents Nelson Mandela of South Africa and Sam Nujoma of Namibia have announced the convening of a heads of state summit on 26 June to discuss implementing a ceasefire following "progress" towards settling the conflict.

"We are moving in the right direction," President Mandela said after talks in Pretoria.

"There is a realisation now on the part of all the parties that nobody is going to win this war, neither President (Laurent) Kabila and his allies can win the war, nor the rebels and their allies," he said.

The leaders of Rwanda and Uganda who back the rebels, have also made positive noises after talks in Tanzania.

President Pasteur Bizimungu of Rwanda and his Ugandan counterpart, Yoweri Museveni, said in a joint statement that an agreement between Uganda and Congo, together with a unilateral Rwandan ceasefire, represented positive moves towards peace.

BBC's Anna Borzello: Eyewitness report from rebel-held Kisangani

Rwanda's Foreign Minister, Amri Sued Ismail, says his country is prepared to negotiate directly with the government of President Kabila - but only if the talks are aimed at securing a lasting peace that guarantees Rwanda's security.

Both Uganda and Rwanda say they have legitimate security interests in protecting their common western borders with Congo where rebels attacking both countries have bases.

Team of experts

Diplomatic efforts at ending the war have also been continuing in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, where Ugandan and Congolese representatives have appointed a team of experts to discuss how to implement a peace plan brokered by Libya.

Congolese troops have appeared unable to prevent rebel advances

In a joint statement they said the team would also work out ways of deploying an African peacekeeping force in DR Congo.