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DATE=5/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-249261
TITLE=CONGO / RAIDS (L ONLY)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=NAIROBI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  REBEL OFFICIALS IN CONGO-KINSHASA SAY AT LEAST 28 PEOPLE 
HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GOVERNMENT BOMBING RAIDS AGAINST TWO 
REBEL-HELD CITIES IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY.  RICHARD 
ENGEL IN NAIROBI REPORTS THE REBELS SAY AT LEAST 15 PEOPLE WERE 
INJURED. 
TEXT:  REBELS SAY GOVERNMENT PLANES  (LATE TUESDAY)  BOMBED THE 
TOWNS OF GOMA AND UVIRA, ABOUT 16-HUNDRED KILOMETERS EAST OF 
KINSHASA.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE REBELS TOLD REPORTERS THAT GOVERNMENT PLANES 
ATTACKED A RADIO STATION IN GOMA AND A COMMUNICATIONS RELAY ON A 
NEARBY MOUNTAIN NEAR THE BORDER WITH RWANDA.  HE SAID RESIDENTIAL
AREAS WERE ALSO BOMBED. 
ANOTHER OFFICIAL SAID A GOVERNMENT PLANE DROPPED THREE BOMBS ON 
UVIRA, WHICH IS SOUTH OF GOMA ALONG LAKE TANGANYIKA.  
IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE TWO TOWNS HAVE BEEN BOMBED SINCE THE 
REBELS STARTED THEIR WAR NINE MONTHS AGO. 
THE REBELS SAY THE ATTACKS APPEAR TO BE RETALIATION FOR REBEL 
ADVANCES EARLIER THIS WEEK.  THE REBELS SAID MONDAY THEY HAVE 
CAPTURED THE TOWN OF MONOLO, THE BIRTHPLACE OF CONGO-KINSHASA'S 
PRESIDENT, LAURENT KABILA.  
THE REBELS ALSO SAY THEY HAVE CAPTURED A RIVER PORT ABOUT 240 
KILOMETERS FROM THE DIAMOND CENTER OF  MBUJI-MAY.  AND THEY SAY 
THEY ARE ADVANCING TOWARD ANOTHER DIAMOND CENTER, LUBUMBASHI.  
THE AREAS ARE OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE BECAUSE PRESIDENT KABILA 
REPORTEDLY USES DIAMOND AND MINERAL CENTERS TO PAY TO FIGHT THE 
REBELS.
THE FIGHTING BETWEEN THE REBELS AND GOVERNMENT TROOPS ERUPTED IN 
AUGUST.  THE REBELS ARE A COALITION OF ETHNIC TUTSIS AND OTHER 
OPPOSITION CONGOLESE WHO ACCUSE PRESIDENT KABILA OF ABUSING POWER
AND STIRRING ETHNIC TENSION. 
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO BRING PEACE TO CONGO-KINSHASA HAVE BEEN 
UNSUCCESSFUL.   FOUR NEARBY NATIONS -- ANGOLA, CHAD, NAMIBIA, AND
ZIMBABWE -- ARE PROVIDING MILITARY SUPPORT FOR THE CONGO-KINSHASA
GOVERNMENT.  UGANDA AND RWANDA ARE HELPING THE REBELS. (SIGNED)  
NEB/RHE/JWH
12-May-99 6:40 AM EDT (1040 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.