Congo rebels urged to stop war

Regional leaders yesterday called on DR Congo rebel group M23 to end hostilities and leave a key eastern town they seized in a rampant advance that has sparked fears of a wider conflict.
The meeting of east African heads of state went forward without a key player -- Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose country the United Nations accuses of backing the rebels -- and wrapped up after less than an hour.
In their closing statement, the leaders called on the rebels to "stop all war activities" and "stop talk of overthrowing an elected government".
The M23 has refused to withdraw unless Kabila agrees to direct peace talks with the group.
Kagame, whose country denies backing the M23, had been expected to attend the meeting in the Ugandan capital.
But a Ugandan foreign ministry official told AFP shortly before the summit that the president was not coming and would instead be represented by his foreign minister, Louise Mushikiwabo. No reason was provided for the absence.
A Ugandan official had earlier said that both Kagame and DR Congo President Joseph Kabila would attend, and that without them the summit would be "meaningless".