(9 May 1997) French/Nat
Zaire's Prime Minister General Likulia Bolongo vowed Friday to defend the capital Kinshasa from advancing rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila.
Kabila's guerrillas have been clashing this week with forces of President Mobutu Sese Seko in Kenge, 190 kilometres (120 miles) east of Kinshasa.
The rebels have encountered unusual resistance in their drive towards Kinshasa.
They say former Rwandan Hutu soldiers and troops from Jonas Savimbi's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) from Angola made up the bulk of troops fighting on the government side.
Zaire's Prime Minister General Likulia Bolongo vowed Friday to defend Kinshasa from advancing rebel forces led by Laurent Kabila.
Kabila's guerrilla troops have been meeting unusual resistance since Sunday in their drive on the capital.
Zairean Information Minister Kin-Kiey Mulumba said Friday fighting continued around Kenge, with 88 rebels dead and four government soldiers killed.
The government's apparently successful resistance reinforced the Prime Minister's defiance.
SOUNDBITE (French):
"Never war in the city of Kinshasa. We will defend Kinshasa to the death."
SUPER CAPTION: General Likulia Bolongo, Prime Minister of Zaire
Kabila's rebel troops have been accused of dropping bombs on Kenge - which Likulia claims is under government control.
SOUNDBITE (French):
"We control Kenge, we have installed the military base in Kenge."
SUPER CAPTION: General Likulia Bolongo, Prime Minister of Zaire
Elsewhere in the capital, several hundred supporters of Zairean President Mobutu Sese Seko rallied in front of the U-S embassy Friday.
The demonstrators called for his return to Zaire.
The embattled Zairean government has accused the United States of joining Uganda and Rwanda in their support of rebel leader Laurent Kabila's movement to unseat Mobutu.
Protesters waved placards with declarations such as "We don't want a blood bath in our dear capital."
They also demanded peaceful negotiations and the return of their president.
Similar rallies were held outside the French embassy, where Mobutu supporters demanded a democratic and peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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Негізгі бет ZAIRE: KINSHASA: PRIME MINISTER BOLONGO VOWS TO DEFEND CAPITAL
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