African leaders gathered in Zambia today at a summit to tackle the thorniest issues in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), amid hopes of breaking deadlocks in peace talks in South Africa.
The six-nation summit came nine days before a 45-day inter-Congolese dialogue at the luxury South African resort town of Sun City, which began late in February, was due to close.
The Lusaka meeting, where the main DRC rebel groups were also represented, will address the toughest matters stalling the separate Sun City talks among the DRC's government, political parties, rebel groups and civic bodies.
"Leaders will among other things review progress made in implementing a 1999 ceasefire deal signed here and the withdrawal of foreign troops from the DRC," a senior Zambian foreign ministry official said.
Heads of state who gathered today were Mr Joseph Kabila of the DRC, Mr Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Mr Sam Nujoma of Namibia and Mr Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, as well as their host, Mr Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia.
Mr Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Mr Jose Eduardo dos Santos of Angola were being represented by their foreign ministers.
South African President, Mr Thabo Mbeki joined representatives of the six nations at the one-day summit in the Zambian capital, expected to be followed by a ministerial meeting tomorrow. AFP