DATE=12/14/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-242955
TITLE=CONGO FIGHTING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REBELS AND GOVERNMENT TROOPS IN CONGO-KINSHASA CLASHED IN
THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY DURING THE WEEKEND. AS TODD PITMAN
REPORTS, THE REBELS SAY THEY SHOT DOWN TWO AIRCRAFT DURING ONE
GOVERNMENT ATTACK.
TEXT: CONGOLESE REBEL LEADER ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA SAYS REBEL
TROOPS SHOT DOWN A FIGHTER JET AND A HELICOPTER IN FIGHTING ON
SUNDAY AROUND THE SOUTHEASTERN CONGOLESE TOWN OF KABALO.
MR. DIA WAMBA SAYS GOVERNMENT-ALLIED TROOPS DROPPED BOMBS ON
REBEL POSITIONS AT KABALO, WHICH IS ABOUT 250 KILOMETRES WEST OF
THE LAKE TANGANYIKA PORT OF KALEMIE. BUT MR. DIA WAMBA SAYS THE
ATTACK WAS REPULSED AND REBELS STILL CONTROL THE TOWN.
THE ZIMBABWEAN ARMY, WHICH IS BACKING THE GOVERNMENT OF PRESIDENT
LAURENT KABILA, SAYS IT LOST A HELICOPTER GUNSHIP AND KILLED AT
LEAST 80 REBELS IN THE FIGHTING.
THE REBELS, BACKED BY TROOPS AND EQUIPMENT FROM UGANDA AND
RWANDA, LAUNCHED A REVOLT TO OUST MR. KABILA IN EARLY AUGUST.
THEY CAPTURED KABALO IN MID-OCTOBER AND HAVE REPULSED FREQUENT
ATTEMPTS BY ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS TO RETAKE THE TOWN.
REBEL OFFICIALS SAY GOVERNMENT-ALLIED WARPLANES -- MOST BELONGING
TO ZIMBABWE -- ARE FLYING EVERY DAY OVER REBEL-HELD TERRITORY IN
EASTERN CONGO. THE PLANES HAVE BOMBED REBEL-HELD PORTS ALONG
LAKE TANGANYIKA INCLUDING MOBA AND KALEMIE. BUT THE DAMAGE HAS
BEEN LIMITED AND REPORTS SAY THE BOMBINGS HAVE DONE LITTLE TO
STOP THE REBELS' ADVANCE.
REBEL OFFICIALS SAY 25 CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AND 90 WOUNDED
SINCE THE FIRST BOMBING RAID ON KALEMIE PORT IN SEPTEMBER.
(SIGNED)
NEB/TP/JWH
14-Dec-98 11:05 AM EST (1605 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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