He has rejected the agreed mediator, Ketumile Masire, the former president of Botswana, and now wants the whole Lusaka agreement renegotiated.

ECONOMIST: In Congo, war gets serious | The

Peace talks being organised in Benin by former Botswana President, Quett Masire, are in difficulties after the Kinshasa government refused to take part in preliminary discussions, and on Monday prevented Kinshasa-based opposition politicians from attending the sessions.

BBC: Kisangani's cathedral 'in flames'

In addition, Mr Kabila's men have clumsily blocked efforts by Sir Ketumile Masire, a former Botswanan president chosen to mediate by the Organisation of African Unity, to prepare the ground for a dialogue between the government and its armed and unarmed opposition.

ECONOMIST: War and peace in Congo | The