Jack Straw started a three day tour of war and disaster-torn central Africa on Monday.

The foreign secretary began with a visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, to establish what help the international community can provide following the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo on Thursday and to boost efforts towards peace following savage regional civil conflicts.

"Central Africa is the scene of the biggest war in the world. This conflict has been ignored for too long. The region stands at a key moment. The fighting may have stopped but peace has not yet broken out," he said.

The trip is a joint mission with his French counterpart Hubert Vedrine - an initiative agreed at November's British-French summit.

"The UK and France were once rivals in Africa. But in the 21st century we know we can achieve more together than we can alone," said Straw.

"Hubert Vedrine and I will be urging the leaders of the region to seize this opportunity for peace. We will of course be expressing our sympathies for the suffering caused by the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo and seeing what the international community can do to help."

The two foreign ministers moved to other regional players in the conflict - Rwanda and Burundi on Tuesday and Uganda on Wednesday - meeting the presidents of each country and other leading political figures.

The Foreign Office said on Sunday that while Straw was following the aftermath of the volcano's eruption closely, rebel activity meant he would not be visiting that area.The department for international development said on Friday that staff were on standby to assist once assessments had been made. EU officials were already being sent into the country, it was said.

Liberal Democrat international development spokesman, Jenny Tonge, called for an end to the war in response to the volcano's activity.

"This is an opportunity for the warring factions to settle their differences and help the afflicted people in this area. It is our responsibility to ensure that this happens quickly and efficiently," she said.