Warring rebels and militias in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo signed a ceasefire deal on Wednesday aimed at ending conflict at the heart of one of the world's most deadly humanitarian catastrophes, Reuters reported. The peace pact in the eastern town of Goma was subscribed to by Tutsi rebels loyal to renegade General Laurent Nkunda, President Joseph Kabila's government, and several militia and armed groups from Congo's North and South Kivu provinces. While foreign observers welcomed the deal as a chance for lasting peace in Congo, they warned that its implementation could be difficult following the collapse of several previous attempted ceasefires in the east. The United Nations and Western governments had been pressing Kabila, Nkunda and eastern armed faction leaders to make peace.
