1.   Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe are backing the Congolese government in its fight against rebel groups backed by Uganda and Rwanda.

2.   But the rebels have rebuffed offers of aid from the Congolese government in Kinshasa, the capital, that they are fighting.

3.   Goma has become war central as well, home to one of the rebel groups seeking to unseat the Congolese government in Kinshasa.

4.   His tour of Africa has already taken him to Angola and Namibia, both supporters of the Congolese government.

5.   Masire visited Kinshasa again this week to help organize talks among the Congolese government, rebels, political opponents and civil society.

6.   Rwandan leaders say the Congolese government has lost control of many parts of the country, particularly in the east where these rebel groups operated.

7.   The agreement calls for a national debate in which the Congolese government would meet with armed rebels, as well as political opposition parties.

8.   The concession falls in an area guarded by Zimbabwean soldiers allied to the Congolese government in its battle with rebel forces.

9.   The Congolese government, fearing that the war will spill into its territory, is reluctant to take the refugees.

10.   The war has pitted Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, along with several rebel groups, against the Congolese government, backed by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe.