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DATE=7/7/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251537
TITLE=CONGO REBEL SWEEP (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  REBELS IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO HAVE 
REPORTEDLY KILLED 60 MILITIAMEN AND SOLDIERS LOYAL TO 
CONGO-KINSHASA PRESIDENT LAURENT KABILA.  AS TODD PITMAN REPORTS 
FROM KIGALI, OFFICIALS SAY THE KILLINGS OCCURRED DURING A 
MILITARY SWEEP BY REBELS IN THE EAST OF THE COUNTRY.
TEXT:  A RWANDAN COMMANDER, SPEAKING BY TELEPHONE FROM THE 
EASTERN REBEL-HELD TOWN OF UVIRA, SAYS MOST OF THE DEAD WERE 
BURUNDIAN GUERRILLA FIGHTERS WHO SUPPORT PRESIDENT KABILA AND 
HAVE BASES INSIDE THE CONGO.
HE SAYS SOME CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT TROOPS WHO HAD INFILTRATED THE 
AREA WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE TWO-DAY MILITARY SWEEP, WHICH BEGAN 
ON MONDAY ON A LAKESIDE PLAIN STRETCHING DOZENS OF KILOMETERS 
SOUTH FROM UVIRA.
MOISE NYRAUGABO, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE MAIN REBEL GROUP KNOWN AS 
THE "CONGOLESE RALLY FOR DEMOCRACY," OR R-C-D, SAYS BURUNDIAN 
GUERRILLAS, TOGETHER WITH A LOCAL MILITIA KNOWN AS THE MAI MAI, 
ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOZENS OF CIVILIAN DEATHS IN THE AREA.
MR. NYRAUGABO SAYS REBEL TROOPS ARE SEARCHING FOR ROGUE MILITIAS 
IN AN EFFORT TO PROTECT THE POPULATION, BUT MANY CIVILIANS IN THE
EAST ARE AFRAID OF THE R-C-D, WHICH HAS LITTLE POPULARITY IN THE 
VAST AREAS IT CONTROLS IN THE EAST.
TENSIONS IN THE AREA AND FIGHTING BETWEEN CONGOLESE REBELS AND 
THE MAI MAI HAVE FORCED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF CIVILIANS TO FLEE 
THEIR HOMES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS.
THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY SAID LATE LAST MONTH THAT AN 
AVERAGE OF TWO-THOUSAND PEOPLE A DAY WERE FLEEING BY BOAT ACROSS 
LAKE TANGANYIKA TO TANZANIA, WHERE ABOUT 110-THOUSAND CONGOLESE 
REFUGEES ARE ALREADY HOUSED IN MAKESHIFT CAMPS.
THE KILLINGS COME AS EFFORTS TO END THE BROADER WAR IN THE CONGO 
CONTINUE IN THE ZAMBIAN CAPITAL LUSAKA.  THE BATTLE HAS ALREADY 
DRAWN IN ARMIES FROM SIX OTHER NATIONS.  AFRICAN DEFENSE AND 
FOREIGN MINISTERS FROM SOME OF  THOSE GOVERNMENTS, TOGETHER WITH 
THE REBELS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE ALLIES, ARE SOON EXPECTED TO 
ADOPT A DRAFT CEASE-FIRE ACCORD WHICH THEY HOPE WILL BE RATIFIED 
BY HEADS OF STATE AT A LATER DATE.  (SIGNED) 
NEB/TP/PCF/KL
07-Jul-99 1:21 PM EDT (1721 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.