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DATE=6/8/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250386
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO ARE 
CLAIMING NEW GAINS IN THE SOUTH OF THE COUNTRY.  AS TODD PITMAN 
REPORTS FROM KIGALI, THE NEWS COMES AMID FRESH REPORTS OF 
BOMBINGS BY GOVERNMENT-ALLIED AIRCRAFT IN NORTHERN 
CONGO-KINSHASA.
TEXT:  A SENIOR OFFICIAL FROM THE MAIN REBEL CONGOLESE RALLY FOR 
DEMOCRACY,BIZIMA KARAHA, SAYS REBEL TROOPS HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER
THE AIRPORT AT MANONO -- THE HOME TOWN OF CONGOLESE PRESIDENT 
LAURENT KABILA.
RADIO RWANDA SAID THE SOUTHEASTERN TOWN HAD FALLEN ON MAY 8, BUT 
THE AIRPORT, WHICH WAS HEAVILY DEFENDED BY ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS 
BACKING PRESIDENT KABILA, WAS TAKEN ON JUNE FIRST.
RADIO RWANDA SAID 275 PRISONERS WERE CAPTURED IN BATTLES FOR THE 
AIRPORT, ALONG WITH SCORES OF AMMUNITION AND COMMUNICATIONS 
EQUIPMENT.
MISTER KARAHA SAID AT LEAST SEVEN ZIMBABWEAN SOLDIERS WERE KILLED
IN THE FIGHT.
MEANWHILE, THE LEADER OF ANOTHER REBEL FACTION SAID RUSSIAN-BUILT
ANTONOV AIRCRAFT HAD BOMBED TWO TOWNS IN THE NORTH OF THE 
COUNTRY.
JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA, A FORMER BUSINESSMEN WHO HEADS THE CONGOLESE 
LIBERATION MOVEMENT, SAID SUDANESE PLANES HAD KILLED ONE CIVILIAN
AND WOUNDED AT LEAST TWENTY OTHERS IN AIR RAIDS ON MONDAY ON THE 
TOWNS OF BUMBA AND BUSINGA.  THE REBELS SAY SUDAN IS BACKING 
PRESIDENT KABILA'S'S ARMY, BUT SUDAN DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN THE 
CONFLICT.
LAST WEEK, MR. BEMBA SAID SUDANESE PLANES KILLED 24 CIVILIANS IN 
A SIMILAR RAID ON THE NEARBY TOWN OF BINGA, ABOUT 1200 KILOMETERS
NORTHEAST OF THE CONGO CAPITAL, KINSHASA.
THE REPORT COMES AS REBEL FACTIONS WERE MEETING WITH THEIR 
ALLIES, RWANDA AND UGANDA, IN THE SOUTHERN UGANDAN TOWN OF 
KABALE.
RWANDAN OFFICIALS SAY THE MEETING IS AIMED AT SORTING OUT DEEP 
DIVISIONS THAT HAVE SPLIT THE MAIN REBEL FACTION -- THE CONGOLESE
RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY OR R-C-D- -- IN TWO. (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/GE
08-Jun-99 2:52 PM EDT (1852 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.