DATE=8/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO/REBELS (S/L)
NUMBER=2-252402
BYLINE=JOHN PITMAN
DATELINE=ABIDJAN
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The leader of one of Congo-Kinshasa's rebel groups
- the Movement for the Liberation of Congo - has signed the
cease-fire agreement that was accepted by regional heads of
state on July 10th. As VOA's John Pitman reports from our
West Africa Bureau, rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba says he
hopes his signature will put pressure on Congo's other main
rebel group to resolve its internal differences and sign
the accord as well.
TEXT: Rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba signed the agreement
on Sunday in Zambia's capital, Lusaka.
/// OPT /// He was flanked at the signing ceremony by
Zambia's president Frederick Chiluba - who brokered the
negotiations which led to the July 10th cease-fire agreement
- and Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa. /// OPT ///
Speaking to reporters after signing the cease-fire, Mr.
Bemba said he hoped his signature would lead to a peaceful
resolution of the crisis between the rebels and Congolese
president Laurent Kabila.
/// OPT BEMBA ACT - IN FRENCH; ESTABLISH AND FADE UNDER ///
/// OPT /// Mr. Bemba said: I have signed this agreement
to give President Laurent Kabila a chance to leave power
peacefully. Calling Mr. Kabila a "criminal individual,"
Mr. Bemba added that unlike the government in Kinshasa, his
rebel movement would keep its promises to improve the lives
of ordinary Congolese. /// END OPT ///
Mr. Bemba's rebel group, the Movement for the Liberation of
Congo - or MLC - controls a small corner of northwestern
Congo, but has recently captured two important towns.
/// OPT /// On Friday, the MLC announced it had captured
the town of Zongo, on the border of the Central African
Republic. Earlier in July, Mr. Bemba's soldiers overran
Gbadolite - the hometown of former Zairean dictator Mobutu
Sese Seko.
/// OPT /// In Zambia on Sunday, Mr. Bemba said his forces
were now within 600 kilometers of the Congolese capital,
Kinshasa. But he stressed he would prefer to end the war
peacefully. /// END OPT ///
Mr. Bemba - whose father is president Kabila's Economy
minister - said his troops would cease their offensive
operations within 24 hours. But he said the MLC would
continue to defend itself if attacked by government troops.
The 37-year-old rebel leader said his next objective would
be to convince the leaders of Congo's main rebel group, the
Rally for Congolese Democracy - or R-C-D - to sign the
Lusaka cease-fire agreement.
/// REST OPT ///
The R-C-D is currently divided into two factions, both of
which claim leadership over the entire group. This
internal division has prevented the R-C-D from signing the
agreement, even though its representatives were among the
key architects of the agreement signed on July 10th.
(SIGNED)
NEB/JP/KL
02-Aug-1999 08:16 AM LOC (02-Aug-1999 1216 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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