South Africa's armed forces say a group of soldiers critically injured in fighting in eastern Congo a month ago have been evacuated by the United Nations.

Eastern and Southern African countries are looking into the possibility of deploying troops to secure areas of eastern Democratic Republic of Congo now under M23 rebel control, according to a document seen by Reuters on Tuesday.

U.K. authorities are punishing Rwanda over its support of the rebels who now control two major cities in eastern Congo.

M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo have captured the airport serving the key city of Bukavu as they continue their advance. The militants' progress comes despite international calls for a ceasefire and a resumption of peace talks.

Britain on Tuesday said it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda over its role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo. A statement from the British government said that until there was significant progress in ending hostilities and the withdrawal of all Rwanda Defence Forces from Congolese territory,