(Reuters) -Rwandan-backed M23 rebels said on Monday they would send a delegation to peace talks with Democratic Republic of Congo's government expected to begin on Tuesday in Angola's capital. The five-member delegation is expected to leave for Luanda on Monday for dialogue at the request of Angolan authorities,

Angola said last week that direct peace talks between Congo and M23 rebels would begin in the Angolan capital Luanda on March 18. President Felix Tshisekedi, who has long ruled out dialogue with M23,

Congo's government will participate in peace talks in Angola on Tuesday with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group that has captured key areas of Congo’s mineral-rich east, a spokesperson said Monday.

The European Union sanctioned nine people and a gold refinery on Monday in connection with a Rwanda-backed rebellion in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a day before peace talks scheduled in Angola between M23 rebels and the Congolese government.