Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe, left, and Congolese President Laurent Kabila, center, attended a tense meeting Saturday

In this story:

• Chirac: 'No reason to doubt their word'
• Kabila: 'What accord?'
• 'A culture of intolerance'
• All eyes on Kabila
• Related stories and sites

PARIS (CNN) -- Hours after French President Jacques Chirac announced Saturday that an agreement had been reached for a cease-fire between countries at war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, confusion broke out over the scope of the pledge.

Chirac told a news conference on the final day of a summit of African leaders in Paris that Uganda, Rwanda and Congo "had reached a consensus to stop this war."

But Congolese President Laurent Kabila denied that a deal had been reached, and the Rwandan president, who supports Congo rebels fighting Kabila's government, said no progress had been made in peace talks.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan persuaded the nations involved in the Congo conflict to hold a meeting during the 20th Franco-African summit in Paris.

"The secretary-general has achieved an agreement for the reaffirmation of the commitment to put an end to this absurd and painful war," Chirac told reporters after the meeting.

He said a document had been drawn up, and that a formal cease-fire agreement was expected to be signed before a meeting of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) set for December 17-18.

Chirac said the parties made the commitment to him, Annan and Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, the chairman of the OAU.

"I have no reason to doubt their word," he said.

Chirac said the meeting had been "held in a tense but not hostile environment."

He said Kabila had agreed to democratic reforms and the need to establish dialogue. "Every party has made progress toward a greater rapprochement," he said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, who backs the Congo rebels along with Rwanda, confirmed the parties had agreed to "an immediate cessation of hostilities and the determination to sign a cease-fire as soon as possible."

But Kabila told reporters: "What accord? I have not signed any accord."

Asked about a signing in mid-December, he said "It's possible, but we have to prepare an accord."

Rwandan President Pasteur Bizimungu also denied a cease-fire agreement had been reached, telling reporters it would be discussed at the OAU meeting.

"I do not think we have made progress," he said, adding that the talks had not been useless. "It's better than a breakup."

South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki agreed that no progress had been made.

"There is no new initiative that has been taken, no new ideas, no new processes," he told a news conference.

Uganda's Museveni tried to soothe differences, saying: "There are always arguments, but we ended with a unanimous agreement."

He said the parties would now discuss security arrangements to stop alleged raids from rebels into Uganda from Congo.

"None of the parties want this conflict to go on," Museveni said.

"We will find a solution, we will do everything possible ... We want peace," Kabila said.

Congo, formerly known as Zaire, has swayed from one crisis to another during the past two years.

Kabila came to power in May 1997 after toppling longtime Zairian dictator Mobutu Sese Seko. He promised reform and democracy in his renamed Democratic Republic of Congo, but many critics say his regime's 18 months in power have seen repressive policies and a growing intolerance of criticism.

Disaffected members of his armed forces banded together with ethnic Tutsi insurgents earlier this year and launched a rebellion, accusing the president of corruption, nepotism and tribalism.

The purpose of the Paris meeting -- which was held on the sidelines of an African summit on security -- was to try to establish a framework for peace negotiations among the warring parties.

Annan on Friday had urged African leaders -- especially those at war in Congo -- to renounce violence and accept compromise to achieve peace.

Annan said many African conflicts are "rooted in a culture of intolerance" and that the Congo conflict poses the continent's greatest challenge.

Chirac on Friday urged African nations to do their own peacekeeping -- a departure from past practices that put the burden on France and other Western nations.

Chirac also renewed France's call for a regional peace conference in central Africa's Great Lakes region.

Thirty-four African leaders attended the Franco-African summit, which concluded Saturday.

Kabila's presence in France has been the focus of attention following the decision by Britain's House of Lords to reject immunity for former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

French prosecutors, responding to complaints by human rights groups, ruled Friday that Kabila could not be pursued for human rights violations because he benefits from customary immunity accorded heads of state in office.

At a state dinner Friday night, Kabila was the only African leader Chirac did not publicly greet on the steps of the Elysee Palace. Instead, Chirac welcomed the Congolese leader inside, far from the cameras.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.