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DATE=2/13/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO FIGHTING (L-O)
NUMBER=2-259112
BYLINE=SCOTT STEARNS
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  Congolese rebels say they are fighting 
government troops outside the airport of a key central 
town.  As Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the 
government says it is pushing the rebels farther east.
TEXT:  After breaking the rebel siege on the town of 
Ikela, Congo's government says it has pushed rebels 
more than 100-kilometers east toward the town of 
Opola.  That is on the road to the rebel's biggest 
city, Kisangani.
Rebels say government troops and their Zimbabwean 
allies in Ikela received supplies and reinforcements.  
They deny that meant a new offensive to the east.
Lambert Mende is the political officer for the rebels 
fighting on that front.  He says President Laurent 
Kabila's forces are still pinned down near Ikela's 
airport.  
            // MENDE ACT //
      There is no progress from Kabila troops on the 
      Ikela front; as far as the fighting is 
      concerned, they are located around Ikela airport 
      up to last night.  Our troops we are at seven 
      kilometers from Ikela airport.
            // END ACT //
All this fighting is going on at a time when Congo is 
supposed to have a cease-fire.  The United Nations 
wants a recommitment to that cease-fire before it 
sends up to five-thousand peacekeepers to Congo. 
But so far, everyone is blaming everyone else for 
starting the fight while justifying their own 
campaigns as efforts to take land held before the 
cease-fire.  Mr. Mende says rebels increasingly 
believe the cease-fire is just talk.
            // MENDE ACT //
      Fighting is resuming as we are talking.
            // END ACT //
Mr. Mende says rebels want the cease-fire, but will 
fight if President Kabila tries to use it against 
them.
            // MENDE ACT //
      We think that enough is enough, now, and the 
      time has come for us really to respond to the 
      attacks of Kabila.
            // END ACT //
President Kabila says Uganda and Rwanda are pushing 
Congo's rebellion in an effort to drive him from 
power.  Uganda supports rebels in the north; Rwanda 
supports Mr. Mendes' group, which controls Kisangani 
and the border towns of Goma and Bukavu.   (SIGNED)
NEB/SS/DW/RAE
13-Feb-2000 12:32 PM EDT (13-Feb-2000 1732 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.