DATE=5/5/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO / RWANDA / UGANDA (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-262045
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KIGALI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Fresh fighting has broken out in the rebel-
held Congolese city of Kisangani between Ugandan and
Rwandan forces backing rival rebel factions in their
war against Congo-Kinshasa's president, Laurent
Kabila. As Todd Pitman reports, at least 10 civilians
are said to have been killed and another 100 wounded
since clashes began early Friday.
TEXT: Rwandan and Ugandan forces battled each other
all day around the diamond-mining city of Kisangani on
Friday in the first clashes between the two former
allies since August of last year.
Rwandan and United Nations observers based in the town
say fighting erupted just before dawn, when Ugandan
troops began shelling Rwandan positions on the
outskirts of the city.
But the Ugandan government blamed Rwandan forces for
starting the conflict and claimed their soldiers came
under attack while withdrawing from positions at the
city's second airport at Simi-Simi.
Bangladeshi Lieutenant-Colonel Akram Hossain, who
heads a four-man U-N observer mission in Kisangani,
says the dead and wounded civilians got caught in a
series of mortar attacks on the city.
Colonel Hossain says much of the fighting was centered
around the city's main airport at Bangoka, where
Ugandan and Rwandan units exchanged fire through the
day. Rwandan army spokesman Emmanuel Ndahiro says
Rwandans destroyed two of Uganda's Russian-built T-55
tanks in clashes at the airport.
Ugandan and Rwanda have been long-time allies, but
divisions emerged last year after each side began to
back rival rebel factions fighting against Congolese
President Laurent Kabila.
The fighting comes during a visit to the Congo by the
U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Richard
Holbrooke, who is leading a U-N Security Council team
trying to end 21 months of fighting between Congolese
rebels and the government. (SIGNED)
NEB/TP/JP
05-May-2000 15:23 PM EDT (05-May-2000 1923 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
