Rebels of the National Congress for the Defence of the People have appeared to be pulling back as promised, offering some hope that the latest conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo may be easing.

But thousands of people remain displaced by the fighting in the east of the country.

Protesters at a crowded camp for the internally displaced near Goma greeted Mark Malloch Brown, Britain's minister for Africa, with signs in English - a language not widely spoken in the region.

They criticised UN peacekeepers who are charged with protecting civilians, saying they want to go home.

Brown said he supported UN recommendations that the peacekeeping force be strengthened.

He also said talking was the only way to end the crisis.

"The point holds that I made earlier, that the more there is contact between the government and rebels of a political character the better that is."

The rebels said they were pulling their forces back from the front lines to allow for talks with the army to take place near Kanyabayonga, a town fifteen kilometers south of Kirumba.

On Tuesday, fighting in Kirumba was between the army and spear-wielding Mai Mai militiamen - who had previously fought on the government side.