Europe launches diplomatic drive for Congo peace

France and Britain announced a European diplomatic push yesterday to secure peace in east Congo, including increased humanitarian help for tens of thousands of civilians fleeing attacks by rebels and soldiers.

Two days after rebel General Laurent Nkunda declared a ceasefire after his fighters reached the gates of Goma, capital of Democratic Republic of Congo's North Kivu province, refugees streamed out of the city to seek safer zones, food and aid.

Many foreign humanitarian agencies restarted operations, taking advantage of an uneasy calm in and around Goma after heavy fighting earlier this week, and handed out water and food to displaced civilians at Kibati, 20 kilometres to the north.

"The situation is catastrophic. There is no other word," International Committee of the Red Cross spokesman Pierre-Emmanuel Ducruet said in Congo's capital Kinshasa. As international efforts intensified to prevent further bloodshed, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and British Foreign Minister David Miliband announced a joint visit to Congo yesterday and then on to Rwanda.

The African neighbours have accused each other of supporting rival rebel groups.

France, which holds the rotating European Union presidency, launched the Congo mission as EU diplomats met in Brussels to discuss possible deployment of a European force to protect Congolese civilians, or at least help deliver humanitarian aid.