Ugandan Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa says his country has no plans to attack the Democratic Republic of Congo, but will defend its own territory.

Mr. Kutesa has departed Congo's capital, Kinshasa, following talks with President Joseph Kabila late Monday that focused on defusing tension caused by recent border violence.

On August 3, a British oil worker was killed during an attack on an oil exploration barge in Lake Albert.

Then last week, gunmen who crossed the border from Congo looted shops in a Ugandan border town and killed three civilians.

Uganda and Congo have had strained relations for many years, with Uganda regularly threatening to send troops across the border if Kinshasa does not take action against lawless groups in eastern Congo.