DHAKA: Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have agreed in principle to allow a neutral international force to patrol their borders, reports say.
The proposed force would tackle militia groups in the eastern DR Congo.
The deal was reached by leaders of the two countries on the sidelines of an African Union summit, Rwanda`s Paul Kagame said, reports BBC.
DR Congo and Rwanda often accuse each other of backing rival rebel groups, and have gone to war in the past.
Recent advances by the M23 guerrilla group in eastern Congo have led to thousands of displaced civilians.
On Sunday Kagame and Congolese President Joseph Kabila held a one-to-one meeting at the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, aides said.
According to a declaration seen by Reuters news agency, they agreed to `work with the AU and the UN for an immediate establishment of a neutral international force to eradicate` armed groups in eastern DR Congo.
The also reportedly says that no support should be given to `any negative force` to `destabilise the region and eastern Congo in particular`.
The Rwandan government has denied accusations that it is backing Congolese Tutsi-led rebels.
The conflict, which has killed and displaced million of civilians over nearly two decades, has its roots in Tutsi-Hutu enmities dating back to Rwanda`s 1994 genocide.
BDST: 0159 HRS, JUL 16, 2012
Edited by Robab Rosan, Cultural Affairs Editor
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