CONGO: AFRICAN DIPLOMATS MEET REBEL LEADERS скачать в хорошем качестве

CONGO: AFRICAN DIPLOMATS MEET REBEL LEADERS

(18 Aug 1998) Eng/French/Nat Four African diplomats have met rebel leaders opposed to President Laurent Kabila in the eastern city of Goma. They are in the country to determine whether Rwanda and Uganda have violated the Democratic Republic of Congo's borders and are helping the rebels. The anti-Kabila rebels have consolidated their gains in the east of the country. And they've warned the political leaders in their movement not to repeat the mistakes of the embattled Congolese head of state. Here in the rebel-held eastern city of Goma on Tuesday, four African diplomats meet Congolese rebel leaders. It's been alleged that Rwanda and Uganda are backing the rebels, although this is denied. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We are merely a fact-finding mission of Foreign Ministers who are to determine whether there has been an invasion of the Congo or whether there is an internal insurrection in the Congo and try and recommend the way forward." SUPER CAPTION: Stan Mudenge, Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Mudenge said the diplomatic team had already met Uganda and Rwandan leaders and President Laurent Kabila in Kinshasa. He and his colleagues from Zambia, Namibia and Tanzania are also trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. Arthur Zahidi Ngoma is an opposition politician close to the rebel movement. SOUNDBITE: (French) "There has been no invasion, what's going on here is that the Congolese themselves are fighting for their freedom." SUPER CAPTION: Arthur Zahidi Ngoma, Congolese opposition politician Rebel chief Jean-Pierre Ondekane flew from his eastern stronghold at Goma 360 kilometres (225 miles) north to Bunia, a hot and dusty trading town on the border with Uganda on Monday. Bunia fell to the rebels last week without a fight, local commander Bob Ngoy told several reporters who accompanied Ondekane. He said troops loyal to Kabila scattered, leaving their weapons behind. They already control Muanda and Kitona air base near the Atlantic Coast, and Congo's only ocean-going port, Matadi, on the Congo River. SOUNDBITE: (French) "The tactics depend on those who use them, we were privileged in the raid on Kitona at first to take the base because we set up a spearhead into which we could bring in troops from Goma and advance on Kinshassa. Kitona was considered a suicide mission that succeeded and was the most important tactical decision in this fighting." SUPER CAPTION: Jean-Pierre Ondekane, Rebel Leader It took Kabila's forces three months to capture the territory the current crop of rebels holds after two weeks. That's largely due to their use of planes to move troops and equipment around the vast and often impenetrable country. 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...