Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for a ceasefire in eastern Congo on Tuesday during their first meeting since M23 rebels stepped up an offensive there in January.

The presidents of Congo and neighboring Rwanda have met in Qatar for their first direct talks since Rwanda-backed M23 rebels seized two major cities in mineral-rich eastern Congo earlier this year.

The presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo met in Qatar on Tuesday and reaffirmed their support for an 'immediate and unconditional ceasefire.' The meeting, brokered by Qatar's emir,

Residents of occupied Bukavu, one of eastern Congo's largest cities, voiced disappointment on Tuesday (March 18) as M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda, pulled out of peace talks with the Congo government.

(Reuters) - Rwanda-backed M23 rebels said on Monday that they had withdrawn from planned peace talks aimed at resolving a spiralling conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo after the EU imposed sanctions on its leader and on Rwandan army commanders.