KAMPALA, Uganda — Representatives of Congo's government and Congolese rebels have agreed on procedural rules for peace talks to stem violence in eastern Congo.

Delegations from the M23 rebels and the Congolese government have been meeting in the Ugandan capital Kampala since Dec. 9, in talks mediated by a regional bloc known as the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region.

The two parties now must agree on the agenda for the negotiations, according to a joint statement Tuesday.

The talks got off to a slow start, with both camps trading accusations over who is responsible for the violence in Congo's North Kivu province.

The rebels, who last month took the eastern city of Goma before withdrawing under international pressure, are believed to be backed by Rwanda. Rwanda denies the allegation.