Congo and Rwanda presidents discuss east Congo conflict in Qatar

Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame held face-to-face talks on Tuesday mediated by the emir of Qatar to address the conflict in eastern Congo, the three governments said.

Tshisekedi and Kagame have been locked in a war of words over an offensive by the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, who have seized eastern Congo's two largest cities since January.

"The Heads of State then agreed on the need to continue the discussions initiated in Doha in order to establish solid foundations for lasting peace," they said in a joint statement seen by Reuters.

The United Nations and international powers accuse Rwanda of providing arms and sending soldiers to fight with the ethnic Tutsi-led M23. Rwanda says its forces are acting in self defence against Congo's army and militias hostile to Kigali.