Despite growing international pressure, the Democratic Republic of Congo is standing firm on its decision not to have direct talks with the M23 rebel group that has made major advances in the east of the country in recent months.

Explosions at a rally held by M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Bukavu killed 11 people and wounded 65 others, Corneille Nangaa, head of the rebel alliance that includes M23,

The UN human rights chief has accused Rwanda-backed rebels who seized a second major city in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of killing children and attacking hospitals and warehouses storing humanitarian aid.

The UN human rights chief accused Rwanda-backed rebels who seized a second major city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) of killing children and attacking hospitals and warehouses storing humanitarian aid.

Nangaa told Reuters by phone that Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi had ordered the attack, without providing evidence. Nangaa said that he was not wounded and other senior members of the rebel grouping - which has battled Congo's army and seized swathes of territory in the east since the beginning of the year - were safe.

Democratic Republic of Congo's government and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels traded blame on Friday for several explosions at a rally in the rebel-held eastern city of Bukavu that killed 13 people and wounded scores of others the previous day.

Explosions killed 11 people and wounded 65 at a rally held by M23 rebels in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu on Thursday, the leader of the rebel alliance said, blaming President Felix Tshisekedi for the violence.