Uganda and Rwanda agree on DR Congo

Museveni has succeeded in improving relations with Rwanda

The president of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni, has had a day of talks in Rwanda with President Paul Kagame.

In a joint statement, they repeated their support for last year's Lusaka peace accord for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and said they would work together for its full implementation.

Uganda and Rwanda support rival rebel factions in DRC - this was Mr Museveni's first visit to Kigali since their two armies were involved in heavy clashes in the Congolese city of Kisangani in June.

Correspondents said the two leaders - formerly close allies - appeared keen to create an impression of renewed fraternity.

Joint statement

In a joint statement after meeting the Presidents called upon the United Nations to fully deploy the UN observer mission to the DRC, Monuc, to support the ceasefire.

Hutu rebels in DR Congo remain a threat to Kagame's regime

The Lusaka accord was signed last year but has so far done little to end the two-year conflict.

UN troop deployment has hardly started.

Although the two leaders emphasised their common ground President Museveni said they would not be forging a common front between the different rebel factions they support.

Security concerns

"President Kagame is not a Congolese. Me, I'm a Ugandan and I'm in Congo because of Ugandan security problems," he said.

"As we are fighting our bandits and the Sudanese [supporters of Ugandan rebels] in Congo, we happen to meet some people who are also angry with President Kabila, but for completely different reasons," he said.

"We are not them and they will have to do their own things," he added.

President Museveni has always justified the presence of his troops in the DRC by the need to prevent Ugandan rebels from operating from within its borders.