Cessation Of DR Congo Crisis Hostilities Starts Friday

African leaders have declared a cessation of hostilities to start on Friday in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo where M23 rebels have been making substantial gains in recent months. <br />The statement was signed at the end of a mini-summit in Angola's capital, Luanda, attended by the Rwandan foreign minister and the presidents of DR Congo, Angola, and Burundi. <br />The signatories agreed an East African regional force would attack M23 positions if the rebels did not withdraw immediately from occupied areas. <br />The US has welcomed the roadmap outlined in the Luanda summit and urged Rwanda to end its support to the M23.