DATE=12/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243538
TITLE=LIBYA/UGANDA/CONGO (L)
BYLINE=SCOTT BOBB
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UGANDA PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI HAS FLOWN TO LIBYA FOR A
MEETING WITH LIBYAN LEADER MUAMMAR GADHAFI. CORRESPONDENT SCOTT
BOBB REPORTS FROM OUR MIDDLE-EAST BUREAU IN CAIRO THE VISIT IS
PART OF EFFORTS TO END THE CONFLICT IN CENTRAL AFRICA'S GREAT
LAKES REGION.
TEXT: THE LIBYAN NEWS AGENCY SAYS THE UGANDAN PRESIDENT MET
(SUNDAY) WITH THE LIBYAN LEADER TO DISCUSS THE PEACE PROCESS IN
THE GREAT LAKES REGION, AND WHAT WERE TERMED NEW ISSUES
CONCERNING THE CONTINENT'S PROBLEMS.
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI'S TRIP FOLLOWS A VISIT TO LIBYA FRIDAY BY
CONGOLESE PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA AND A VISIT LAST TUESDAY BY
CONGOLESE REBEL LEADER ERNEST WAMBA DIA WAMBA.
AFRICAN LEADERS HAVE BEEN TRYING TO MEDIATE THE CONFLICT SINCE
THE LATEST REBELLION BROKE OUT LAST AUGUST IN EASTERN CONGO. BUT
PRESIDENT KABILA HAS REFUSED TO MEET WITI THE RECELS, SAYING
FOREIGN FORCES MUST WITHDRAW FROM HIS COUNTRY FIRST.
A SUMMIT ON THE CONFLICT WAS DUE TO OPEN MONDAY (12/28) IN
ZAMBIA, BUT HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
UGANDA AND RWANDA BACK THE REBELS, WHILE ZIMBABWE, NAMIBIA,
ANGOLA, AND CHAD SUPPORT THE KABILA GOVERNMENT.
PRESIDENT MUSEVENI WAS THE LATEST OF NEARLY ONE-DOZEN AFRICAN
LEADERS TO FLY TO LIBYA IN VIOLATION OF AN INTERNATIONAL BAN ON
AIR TRAFFIC. THE BAN WAS IMPOSED BECAUSE OF LIBYA'S REFUSAL TO
HAND OVER TWO SUSPECTS IN THE LOCKERBIE PLANE BOMBING 10-YEARS
AGO.
THE ORGANIZATION OF AFRICAN UNITY LAST JUNE VOTED TO IGNORE THE
BAN FOR DIPLOMATIC AND RELIGIOUS TRAVEL. (SIGNED)
NEB/SB/DW/RAE
27-Dec-98 11:05 AM EST (1605 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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