France's foreign minister was due in Rwanda on Thursday after talks in the Democratic Republic of Congo as part of efforts to prevent a regional escalation following the capture of the eastern Congolese city of Goma by M23 rebels and Rwandan troops.

Paris has condemned an attack on its embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo's capital, Kinshasa. The attack came amid demonstrations against the escalating conflict in the country's east.

Rwanda-backed rebels who have captured eastern Congo’s largest city say they plan to take their rebellion to the capital and seek to gain political power.