Military officials from the warring parties in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo are locked in talks on the implementation of the Lusaka peace accord.

The discussions, in Lusaka, are said to be relaxed and friendly, but progress is slow.

This is only the second working meeting held by the Joint Military Council since the rebels signed the deal in August.

The Algerian general in charge of the council, Rashid Lalali, has complained of lack of money.

He says that without manpower or equipment, he is unable to fulfill his mandate. There is unease among some delegates over President Laurent Kabila's reluctance to offer a guarantee of unconditional security to United Nations peacekeepers in the country.