The UN Security Council voted yesterday to send 3,100 more peacekeeping troops to the area to help the 17,000 UN soldiers and police already on the ground.

African nations such as Senegal and Kenya could be among the nations contributing forces.

Amnesty International said: "This is a good first step, but it is the implementation that matters. The people of the DRC have waited a long time for this small grain of hope - they urgently need to see those troops on the ground, protecting them from attack."

"This resolution may have been passed today - but the situation remains unchanged. We are still receiving reports of killings, rape and abduction of children - and we will continue to get those reports until there is effective protection of civilians in practice.

"It is not enough to pass resolutions. States around the world need to make an immediate pledge of troops and equipment - to make a concrete contribution towards protecting the people of the DRC."