Leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Rwandahave agreed to meet, as thousands flee the latest fighting along theborder.
European Union Development and Humanitarian AidCommissioner Louis Michel says the presidents of both countries willattend an emergency summit sponsored by the United Nations and theAfrican Union.
Rebels led by General Laurent Nkunda declared acease-fire Wednesday, but not before advancing to within 15 kilometersof the eastern Congolese city of Goma.
The U.N. refugee agencysays almost 4,000 people have fled to Rwanda and Uganda inrecent days. Agency spokesman Ron Redmond says without more resources,conditions could soon deteriorate.
Meanwhile, French ForeignMinister Bernard Kouchner and his British counterpart, David Miliband,moved ahead with crisis talks, meeting Saturday with CongolesePresident Joseph Kabila in Kinshasa. They also will travel to Rwandafor talks with President Paul Kagame.
Officials from the U.N. and the AU have been calling for a regional summit in an effort to end the crisis.
Congolese troops and rebel forces began a series of clashes in late August after the collapse of a January peace deal.
Therebels say they are defending ethnic Tutsis in the region againstRwandan Hutu fighters, who crossed into Congo after Rwanda's 1994genocide.
Congolese authorities have accused the Rwandangovernment of backing Nkunda, and the two countries have accused eachother's troops of crossing the border and firing at each other in therecent clashes.
Meanwhile, U.N. Human Rights Commissioner NaviPillay has condemned Congolese government troops for a spree oflooting, raping and killing in Goma on Wednesday. The U.N. said Fridaythat 21 people were killed, including eight government soldiers shotwhile engaging in looting.