Congo’s president says he is going to launch a unity government, as violence spreads across the country’s east and pressure mounts over his handling of the crisis.

The president of Democratic Republic of Congo has declared his intention to establish a unity government as violence intensifies in the eastern part of the country and criticism grows regarding his response to the situation.

(Reuters) - Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi will launch a unity government, his spokesperson said on Saturday, as he faces domestic pressure over his handling of an offensive by Rwanda-backed M23 rebels in eastern provinces.

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi announced he is going to reach out to opposition leaders in a bid to create a unity government, as a humanitarian crisis deepens in the country's east with the advance of M23 rebels.

Amid growing unrest in eastern Congo, President Felix Tshisekedi has announced plans to establish a unity government. As Rwandan-backed rebels capture major cities and tensions rise, Tshisekedi emphasizes the importance of unity and reaching out to opposition groups to address the crisis and stabilize the region.

The M23's capture of swathes of eastern Congo and valuable mineral deposits has fanned fears of a wider war and provoked some members of the fractious opposition to openly predict his