DATE=6/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250163
TITLE=CONGO BOMBING (L ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: REBELS FIGHTING TO OUST CONGO-KINSHASA PRESIDENT LAURENT
KABILA SAY A GOVERNMENT PLANE HAS BOMBED TWO TOWNS IN THE EAST OF
THE COUNTRY. BUT AS TODD PITMAN REPORTS FROM KIGALI, THE REBELS
SAY THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL.
TEXT: REBEL COMMANDER JOHNSON ASSONI SAYS ONE RUSSIAN-BUILT
CARGO PLANE DROPPED THREE BOMBS JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY ON
UVIRA, A SMALL LAKESIDE PORT SITUATED ON CONGO'S EASTERN BORDER
WITH BURUNDI.
BUT COMMANDER ASSONI SAYS ONLY ONE OF THE BOMBS EXPLODED, LIGHTLY
WOUNDING A FAMILY OF FIVE AND DESTROYING FIVE HOUSES.
RWANDAN OFFICIALS REPORTED A SIMILAR AIR RAID FARTHER NORTH ON
BUKAVU, ANOTHER LAKESIDE TOWN NEAR THE RWANDAN BORDER.
BUT RWANDAN GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN WILSON RUTAYISIRE SAID THOSE
BOMBS MISSED THEIR TARGETS, FALLING IN A FOREST OUTSIDE BUKAVU
AIRPORT.
THERE WERE NO DEATHS IN EITHER RAID, BUT IT IS THE SECOND SUCH
ATTACK IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS.
LAST MONTH, MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A SIMILAR RAID ON
UVIRA AND ON THE REBELS' EASTERN HEADQUARTERS AT GOMA.
RWANDAN TROOPS ARE BACKING THE REBELS IN THEIR 10-MONTH BID TO
OUST PRESIDENT KABILA. LAST WEEK, RWANDA ANNOUNCED A UNILATERAL
CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IT SAID IS AIMED AT GIVING THE PEACE
PROCESS A CHANCE.
BUT OFFICIALS IN THE CONGO CAPITAL, KINSHASA, SAY THE CEASEFIRE
IS AIMED ONLY AT GIVING RWANDA TIME TO CONSOLIDATE ITS
BATTLEFIELD POSITION AND MEND A RIFT WITHIN THE REBEL MOVEMENT.
(SIGNED)
NEB/TP/JWH
03-Jun-99 6:59 AM EDT (1059 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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