DATE=12/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO REBELS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256788
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Rebels in the Democratic Republic of
Congo say government troops have recaptured a key
town on the northwestern front. As Todd Pitman
reports from the Rwandan capital, Kigali, the
town's fall is part of government efforts to
liberate several thousand allied troops trapped
behind rebel lines.
TEXT: Rebel spokesman Kin-Kiey Mulumba says
government troops launched a massive assault on
Bokungu a small frontline town 800 kilometers
northeast of the capital, Kinshasa.
Mr. Mulumba says rebels retreated from the town
on Thursday after it was attacked with ground
troops and gunboats and bombed from the air by
helicopter gunships and Russian-built planes.
Mr. Mulumba says there were many dead in the
attack, but there was no independent
confirmation available.
Located on a tributary of the Congo River,
Bokungu has been the scene of fierce fighting for
more than a week, the fiercest fighting reported
in the Congo since a cease-fire deal was signed
three months ago.
Rebels say clashes around the town began when
government troops launched a drive to break
through rebel lines to liberate several thousand
Zimbabwean, Namibian and Congolese troops backing
President Kabila. The troops are encircled by
rebels at Ikela, 122 kilometers to the southeast.
Allied troops had apparently been surrounded at
Ikela since the peace accord was brokered and
soldiers on both sides were ordered to silence
their guns.
But Zimbabwe says rebels have since tried to cut
off supply lines to the troops -- in violation of
the peace deal -- and fired on planes trying to
land at Ikela airport or airdrop supplies.
Zimbabwe has admitted at least 700 of its
soldiers are encircled at Ikela and this week
vowed to continue bombing rebel positions until
its troops are liberated and rebels pushed out of
the area.
The fighting comes as U-S Ambassador to the
United Nations Richard Holbrooke is touring
Africa, in part for talks with regional leaders
to try to salvage what's left of the Congo peace
accord. (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/GE/KL
03-Dec-1999 07:22 AM EDT (03-Dec-1999 1222 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
