DATE=6/7/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=CONGO / KINSHASA (L-UPDATE)
NUMBER=2-263266
BYLINE=TODD PITMAN
DATELINE=KISANGANI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: At least 50 civilians are reported dead in
fighting between armies from Uganda and Rwanda in the
Congolese city of Kisangani. Todd Pitman in Kisangani
reports the fighting is continuing for a third day.
TEXT: Heavy machine gun and mortar fire echoed across
the Congolese city of Kisangani all day Wednesday,
despite efforts by the United Nations to broker a
cease-fire.
A Red Cross official in Kisangani, Alexandre
Lieberskind, said at least 50 civilians were killed
and 100 wounded since fighting erupted Monday. U-N
officials said 19 children were killed and 60 wounded.
Most of the fighting centered around the Tshopo River
bridge, where residents say clashes are continuing
street-to-street.
The two sides also exchanged artillery fire from
opposite sides of the city -- Rwandans from south of
the Congo River, Ugandans north of the Tshopo River.
The fighting sent hundreds of residents running for
cover.
U-N officials say as many as two-thousand shells fell
on the town on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, one bomb slammed into Kisangani's
cathedral -- a large concrete building perched along
the Congo River -- setting it ablaze.
U-N monitors based in the town say Ugandan and Rwandan
commanders in Kisangani have agreed -- in principle --
to a cease-fire. But they have no clear orders from
their governments.
Rwanda and Uganda once were close allies in a broader
war against Congo-Kinshasa President Laurent Kabila.
But that alliance seems all but forgotten now. And
both countries are reported to be sending
reinforcements to the Congolese city. (Signed)
NEB/TP/JWH/ENE/JP
07-Jun-2000 13:04 PM EDT (07-Jun-2000 1704 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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