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DATE=7/3/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251398
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L-ONLY) 
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  ONE OF THE MAIN REBEL LEADERS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 
OF CONGO HAS ACCUSED THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC OF BACKING THE 
GOVERNMENT OF CONGO-KINSHASA PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA.  AS TODD 
PITMAN REPORTS FROM KIGALI, THE NEWS COMES AS REBEL AND 
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CONTINUE TALKS IN THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL, 
LUSAKA, AIMED AT ENDING THE WIDENING CONFLICT.
TEXT:  JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA, WHO HEADS THE REBEL CONGOLESE 
LIBERATION MOVEMENT, SAYS GOVERNMENT AIRCRAFT ARE USING BANGUI, 
THE CAPITAL OF THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, AS A BASE TO LAUNCH 
AIR RAIDS INTO NORTHERN CONGO.
MR. BEMBA SAYS PLANES BACKING MR. KABILA LAUNCHED TWO RAIDS FROM 
BANGUI AIRPORT ON THURSDAY INTO NORTHERN CONGO'S EQUATOR 
PROVINCE, KILLING FIVE CIVILIANS IN TWO SMALL TOWNS.
HE SAYS THE AERIAL BOMBINGS HAVE RARELY HIT MILITARY TARGETS, BUT
IN RECENT WEEKS AIR RAIDS HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF CIVILIANS.
MR. BEMBA WARNED THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC TO STAY OUT OF THE 
CONGO CONFLICT, SAYING SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT KABILA WILL ONLY 
BRING THAT GOVERNMENT PROBLEMS.
THE BEMBA FACTION OPERATES IN NORTHERN CONGO, WITH BACKING FROM 
THE UGANDAN ARMY.  IT REPRESENTS ONE OF THREE REBEL FACTIONS 
ATTENDING PEACE TALKS IN ZAMBIA.
BOTH REBEL AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS AT THE LUSAKA TALKS SAY THE 
WARRING PARTIES ARE NEARING AN AGREEMENT THAT COULD PRODUCE A 
CEASE-FIRE.
MR. BEMBA SAYS THREE MAIN POINTS HAVE BEEN AGREED ON BY ALL SIDES
-- INCLUDING THE NEED TO HOLD A NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON THE FUTURE 
OF THE COUNTRY, THE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE 
NEED TO INTEGRATE REBEL AND GOVERNMENT TROOPS INTO A SINGLE 
NATIONAL ARMY.
MR. BEMBA SAYS THE REBELS WILL  NOT  CEDE AUTHORITY TO PRESIDENT 
KABILA'S GOVERNMENT, BUT ONLY TO A NEW ADMINISTRATION THAT HE 
HOPES WILL BE CREATED AFTER THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE.   (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/DW/WTW
03-Jul-99 1:01 PM EDT (1701 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.