Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) counterpart Joseph Kabila have agreed the Congo peace process must resume to allow thousands of refugees to return to the DRC.

The conclusion of the Ugandan-mediated talks would also facilitate the peaceful return of former combatants from the M23 rebel group and completion of the demobilization process, the two leaders said in a communique after meeting here Monday.

"The two presidents agreed that the Kampala Dialogue between the government of the DRC and the M23 should be brought to a conclusion as soon as possible," it said.

"This would further create appropriate conditions for the return of Congolese refugees living in neighboring countries and the internally displaced persons," the communique said.

Kabila re-affirmed his determination to rid the DRC of all other negative forces, including the FDLR, a Rwandan rebel group, and the Allied Democratic Force, a Ugandan rebel group.

The DRC government declined to sign a peace agreement it had negotiated with the M23 last month, saying it needed a review of the final text.

The Congolese government and the M23 rebels have been negotiating for almost a year to end fighting in the eastern part of the country.