Algerian initiative on DR congo

Algeria has announced that it will host an African summit on the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo next sunday.

Algerian television said several African presidents, including President Laurent Kabila and Thabo Mbeki, of South Africa, were to attend.

It said the aim of the summit is to support the current peace process.

However, none of the five African countries involved in the conflict were listed among those taking part.

Rwanda, Uganda are supporting the rebels fighting to oust President Kabila, whose army in turn is backed by Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia. The Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika , who's the current head of the Organisation of African Unity, is to chair the meeting.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service