The Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel group signed on Saturday in Qatar a framework agreement for a peace deal aimed at ending fighting in eastern Congo.

The agreement was signed by representatives from both sides in a ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha.

M23, in the latest of a string of actions supported by neighbouring Rwanda, seized Goma, eastern Congo's largest city, in January and went on to make gains across North Kivu and South Kivu provinces.

Rwanda has long denied allegations that it has helped M23, which has seized more territory in Congo than it has ever previously held.

The fighting has killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands more this year, while escalating the risk of a full-scale regional war.

Qatar has hosted multiple rounds of direct talks between the Congo government and the rebels going back to April, but they have dealt largely with preconditions and confidence-building measures.

The two sides agreed in July to a declaration of principles that left many key issues at the root of the conflict unresolved, and in October they reached a deal on the monitoring of an eventual ceasefire.