DATE=12/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243397
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO SAY THEY HAVE
CAPTURED ANOTHER TOWN IN THE SOUTHEAST OF THE COUNTRY. AS TODD
PITMAN REPORTS FROM KIGALI, THE FIGHTING CONTINUES AHEAD OF A NEW
ROUND OF TALKS NEXT WEEK AIMED AT ENDING THE CONFLICT.
TEXT: SENIOR REBEL LEADER ARTHUR Z'AHIDI NGOMA SAYS REBEL TROOPS
RECENTLY CAPTURED THE SOUTHEASTERN TOWN OF PWETO, A FEW
KILOMETERS FROM THE ZAMBIAN BORDER.
IF CONFIRMED, PWETO'S FALL MARKS ANOTHER STEP IN THE REBELS' SLOW
PUSH INTO CONGO-KINSHASA'S MINERAL-RICH SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF
KATANGA, HOME TO THE COUNTRY'S HUGE COPPER MINING INDUSTRY.
SIX OTHER AFRICAN NATIONS ARE INVOLVED IN THE CIVIL WAR --
CONGO'S SECOND REBELLION IN TWO YEARS.
RWANDA AND UGANDA ARE BACKING THE REBELS AND BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE
TROOPS STATIONED DEEP INSIDE THE CONGO -- OFFICIALLY FOR THEIR
OWN SECURITY.
ANGOLA, ZIMBABWE, CHAD, AND NAMIBIA HAVE SENT MILITARY AID TO
BOLSTER THE GOVERNMENT ARMY OF PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA.
EFFORTS TO BROKER A CEASEFIRE TO END THE FIGHTING HAVE SO FAR
FAILED. PRESIDENT KABILA REFUSES TO MEET THE REBELS FACE TO
FACE, INSISTING INSTEAD THAT RWANDA AND UGANDA MUST FIRST
WITHDRAW THEIR TROOPS.
MISTER KABILA HAS SOUGHT HELP FROM SEVERAL AFRICAN LEADERS,
INCLUDING LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADDAFI, IN HIS FIGHT TO PUT DOWN
THE REBELLION.
BUT REBEL CHIEF ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA SAYS THE REBELS THEMSELVES
HELD TALKS WITH COLONEL GADDAFI IN TRIPOLI ON MONDAY.
LIBYA IS REPORTEDLY BACKING THE CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT THROUGH
CHAD, WHICH HAS AS MANY AS ONE THOUSAND SOLDIERS FIGHTING
ALONGSIDE MISTER KABILA'S TROOPS.
ANOTHER ROUND OF PEACE TALKS IS SET TO BE HELD IN ZAMBIA'S
CAPITAL, LUSAKA, BEGINNING SUNDAY (DECEMBER 27TH). (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/JWH
22-Dec-98 6:10 AM EST (1110 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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