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Mobutu's next move?

Rebels advance but Zaire insists president will return

May 8, 1997
Web posted at: 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT)

Latest developments:

KINSHASA, Zaire (CNN) -- As rebels appeared to push closer to Zaire's capital, President Mobutu Sese Seko and fellow African leaders continued a mini-summit in Gabon on Thursday trying to find a solution to the conflict.

Despite speculation Mobutu went to Gabon as a jumping off point to exile in another country, Zaire's information minister continued to insist the president planned to return, possibly on Thursday or Friday.

However, several senior government officials already have fled Zaire or plan to, reliable sources in Kinshasa told CNN.

Rebels reported to have taken Kenge

Western sources told CNN that rebels had taken control of Kenge -- 200 kilometers (125 miles) east of the capital Kinshaha -- on Tuesday.

Residents of Kenge, in radio contact with Kinshasa, said at least 200 civilians, 106 government soldiers and 15 rebels were killed in heavy fighting. Aid groups in Kenge also reported several hundred deaths.

On Wednesday, the rebels acknowledged they had faced heavy resistance from loyalist forces around Kenge, and accused Mobutu of bringing in mercenaries from Angola and Rwanda.

A government spokesman in Kinshaha denied that troops from other countries were fighting with Zaire's soldiers, and said he had no information about the situation in Kenge.

If the rebels seized Kenge and its airport, they could be in position to fly troops into Kinshasa and secure the international airport. Rebel leader Laurent Kabila has said the airport would be his first target in the capital.

Kabila has accused Mobutu of enriching himself during his 32-year dictatorship. Despite being rich in diamonds, copper and other natural resources, Zaire has fallen into poverty and dilapidation during Mobutu's rule.

France says it doesn't know Mobutu's intentions

Should Mobutu flee Africa -- something his family and government repeatedly insist won't happen -- one possible destination was France, where he has a Riviera villa. Mobutu, 66, has prostate cancer had has received medical treatment in France in the past.

In Paris, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Thursday that France had no information on Mobutu's intentions.

Bill Richardson, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, met with French officials Thursday to discuss the U.S. approach to peace in Zaire.

The foreign ministry spokesman would not say whether Mobutu's possible return to France was discussed.

Correspondent Mike Hanna and Reuters contributed to this report.

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