UGANDA'S President Yoweri Museveni yesterday said fighting has erupted in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo because UN peacekeepers "tolerate" rebels.

He said the force has become ineffective and an there is need for an intervention to stop deaths in the region.

Addressing a special summit of the International Conference on Great Lakes Region at the UN headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi, Museveni said the peacekeepers coexist with rebels and he does not see much coming out of their deployment to the country.

"They live side by side with the militia," Museveni who chairs ICGLR said in the presence of UN special envoy Mary Robinson who attended the summit.

Others who attended the summit are President Michel Djotodia of Central Africa Republic, Sudan vice president Adam Yousef, South Sudan Foreign Affairs minister Benjamin Marial and Deputy President William Ruto.

In the last few weeks, more than 30 people have died due to fighting between M23 and government troops in eastern DRC. More than 60,000 refugees have fled to Uganda. More than two million people have been displaced. Museveni said fighting in eastern DRC threatens peace in the Great Lakes region. He said the international community should address the issue.

"The people of Eastern Congo have suffered for a long time," Museveni said. Museveni said two elections have been held in DRC but the M23 rebels rejected the results.

He said President Joseph Kabila's government needs "back-up to crash them".

"Use of force by the group is now the norm. DRC needs to be empowered and the issue need to be addressed frankly by the international community," he said. Robinson who read UN secretary general Ban ki Moon's message said hostilities in eastern DRC need to end and militia groups disarmed. President Uhuru said Kenya is committed to peace in the region. He said insecurity affects development. "Security threats in the region have to be eliminated and Kenya desires to be a signatory of ICGLR in order for the people in the region to coexist peacefully and develop," he said.

Uhuru said Kenya has faced threats of terrorism since it pursued Al-Shabaab in Somalia but was still ready to ensure that the country achieve its dream of peace.