Britain on Tuesday said it would pause some bilateral aid to Rwanda and impose other diplomatic sanctions on Kigali over its role in the conflict in neighbouring Congo, a move Kigali termed "punitive".

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

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,