Word: laurents
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KINSHASA, Zaire: As Mobutu Sese Seko continued what many believe could be a permanent absence from Zaire, the battle for Kinshasa began in earnest. After taking three-quarters of Zaire with little or no resistance from demoralized government troops, Laurent Kabila's rebel forces are now locked in an unexpectedly bloody battle in Kenge, 120 miles east of the capital. Reportedly 300 people, including 100 civilians, have already been killed. Kinshasa's defense has reportedly been joined by Rwandan and Angolan mercenaries propping up Mobutu's tattered forces. Rebels also said French mercenaries were holding down Kinshasa's airport. Kabila...
...Zaire: Mobutu Sese Seko's abrupt announcement that he will leave Kinshasa for a Wednesday meeting in Gabon with friend and longtime supporter President Omar Bongo has many wondering if Zaire's ruler of 32 years will ever return. Mobutu aides say he will come home Friday, but with Laurent Kabila reportedly less than 100 miles from Kinshasa, many are speculating that Mobutu will leave Gabon for exile on the French Riviera. One possible indication that Mobutu is ready to relinquish Zaire: The itinerary of U.S. envoy Bill Richardson. After a day of talks with Mobutu representatives, Richardson is headed...
LUBUMBASHI, Zaire: Now that Zaire's summit-on-the-sea has ended in an apparent stalemate, Laurent Kabila is back to his preferred form of diplomacy: the ultimatum. From his headquarters in Lubumbashi, Kabila has given Mobutu Sese Seko eight days to yield to the rebel alliance or "be chased from the power." Fiercely denying a U.N. envoy's statement that he had agreed to a cease-fire with the ailing Mobutu, the rebel leader is giving his troops quick marching orders toward the capital. As he attempts to get Mobutu to resign before the soldiers arrive, Bill Richardson began...
KINSHASA, Zaire: Confusion overtook the planned Friday summit between Mobuto Sese Seko and rebel leader Laurent Kabila when the embattled Zairian president didn't show up for his flight, leaving some befuddled Zairian Cabinet ministers waiting at the Kinshasa airport. Government officials said the meeting was now slated for Saturday, while rebel spokesman Bizima Karaha was pushing for Sunday. South African officials, meanwhile, were still insisting that the summit would take place on Friday as planned. U.S. envoy Bill Richardson is now trying to salvage the peace talks...
KISANGANI, Zaire: U.N. ambassador Bill Richardson arrived in Kinshasa with orders to negotiate a peace between the government and rebel leader Laurent Kabila and at the same time help to extricate some 100,000 Rwandan refugees from the path of the rebellion. After months of resisting U.N. air evacuation of refugees on the grounds that it would disrupt troop movements, rebel leader Laurent Kabila made an abrupt turnaround Sunday and gave the U.N. just sixty days, starting May 1, to track down and evacuate every last refugee. After Sunday's maiden voyage carried just 40 refugees from Kisangani to their...