The authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have given more details about the deployment of peacekeeping troops to help end the eight-month war against rebels following an agreement reached in Libya last weekend.

The Congolese Foreign Minister,Abdoulaye Yerodia, said soldiers from Libya and Eritrea would arrive in early May and move up to the frontline.

The Foreign Minister was briefing diplomats in Kinshasa on the accord signed by President Kabila of the D.R. of Congo, and President Museveni of Uganda, which supports the rebels.

The accord, brokered by Libya, does not have the backing of the rebels or of Rwanda, which supports them. The rebels, who came close to taking Kinshasa in August, control much of the country.

Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia and Chad have rallied to President Kabila's side, sending him troop reinforcements.