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.

At least 11 people have been killed and scores injured in the eastern Congo city of Bukavu where explosions struck a rally held by leaders of the M23 rebel group that took control of the city earlier

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.