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Zairian president sacks PM; rebels reportedly capture key city
April 9, 1997
Web posted at: 10:31 a.m. EDT (1431 GMT)KINSHASA, Zaire (CNN) -- Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko ousted the nation's prime minister Wednesday and immediately named the army chief of staff to head the government. Also Wednesday, witnesses said rebels in the east had captured the nation's second largest city, Lubumbashi.
Defense Ministry spokesman Leon Kalima announced that a successor had been named to replace Prime Minister Etienne Tshisekedi, an opposition activist who was appointed to the post one week ago. Tshisekedi reportedly was arrested by security forces Wednesday.
The announcement followed a morning of fierce clashes between soldiers and thousands of protesters supporting Tshisekedi. It also came less than 24 hours after Mobutu declared a nationwide state of emergency and banned political rallies.
Also: The White House said Wednesday that Mobutu should leave power because support for him was insufficient to lead Zaire "into the next chapter of its history."
- MORE DETAILS SOON -
Related stories:
- U.N. report: Zairian rebels massacred refugees - April 8, 1997
- Zaire soldiers use tear gas, batons to end march - April 7, 1997
- Zaire refugee airlift faces obstacles - April 6, 1997
- Zairian prime minister offers to share power - April 3, 1997
- The roots of Zaire's unrest - April 2, 1997
- Zaire rebels: New prime minister changes nothing - April 2, 1997
Related sites:
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- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Crisis in Central Africa
- Official web site of Zaire
- Zaire Watch
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