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KAMPALA — Democratic Republic of Congo’s president wants talks with rebels in the country’s east concluded as soon as possible, Ugandan and Congolese statements said, although there was no sign of a breakthrough on the wording of an accord that scuppered a signing last month.Kinshasa and DRC’s M23 rebels failed to seal the deal after squabbles over what it should be called — the insurgents were ready to sign a peace agreement but Congo wanted to call it a declaration that reflected the rebels’ military defeat.

M23 are the latest incarnation of Tutsi-led insurgents who have battled Congo’s government in eastern regions for more than two decades.

The cycle of conflict fuelled by competition over land and mineral wealth has undermined the stability of the surrounding region and DRC had regularly accused its eastern neighbours Rwanda and Uganda of backing the insurgents — a charge they both deny.

Congolese President Joseph Kabila and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni met on Monday in Uganda’s capital to discuss the deal. — Reuters.