KINSHASA, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Renegade Congolese General Laurent Nkunda, who heads an eastern rebellion and is wanted for war crimes, said on Thursday his fighters had started rejoining the government army after talks in Rwanda. "I think this is going to lead to a peaceful settlement," Nkunda told Reuters. A U.N. military spokesman said the process of mixing Nkunda's forces with government batallions in volatile North Kivu province would officially start later on Thursday.