CONGO: KINSHASA: KABILA'S TROOPS CHEERED AS THEY PATROL STREETS скачать в хорошем качестве

CONGO: KINSHASA: KABILA'S TROOPS CHEERED AS THEY PATROL STREETS

(21 May 1997) English/Nat The new regime in the Democratic Republic of Congo - formerly Zaire - has warned that rebuilding the country will take a considerable time - far longer than the seven month period that brought them to power. Aides to the country's new ruler - Laurent Kabila - were also vague about when a new government would be announced. Kabila, who proclaimed himself President last Saturday, had promised to name a government within 72 hours of taking power. Residents of Kinshasa were still celebrating the rebel victory on Wednesday. Laurent Kabila's troops, very much in evidence on the streets, were cheered as they patrolled. Those cheering were apparently satisfied that the ending of former President Mobutu Sese Seko's autocratic rule meant a greater push towards democracy. But opposition leaders are not so sure. Some have expressed concern that Kabila may himself be an autocrat. A senior official in the new regime, Deo Bugera, met the most popular opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi, on Wednesday. And Kabila aides have said other opponents to Mobutu's rule will be welcome in the new government. But rather than representing political parties, they will serve merely as individuals. In a brief statement on Wednesday, Kabila's foreign minister vowed to make the country a democracy. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I am happy to be in Kinshasa which belongs in a country where there is freedom, where there is democracy, where there is human rights respect." SUPER CAPTION: Bizima Karaha, Foreign Minister of rebel alliance But although he said it was time for the next phase of the revolution, he did not give any specific time frame. SOUNDBITE: (English) "Our plans is that we should start now the second phase of our revolution, which is the most difficult, most challenging, but we are very well prepared for that, that is the construction phase." SUPER CAPTION: Bizima Karaha, Foreign Minister of rebel alliance Kabila's alliance said on Tuesday it was committed to multiparty elections within 12 months. That's a guarantee the United States and other Western nations had pressed Kabila to make. But until those elections, Kabila's alliance will be the sole power in the newly named Democratic Republic of Congo. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...