Evacuees trapped by fighting in Republic of Congo
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- President announces cease-fire
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June 11, 1997
Web posted at: 9:51 a.m. EDT (1351 GMT)BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (CNN) -- Mortar explosions and gunfire thundered across the capital of Brazzaville into Wednesday morning as a week-long battle between militia and government troops raged on. Hundreds of would-be international evacuees were stranded by fighting near the airport.
President Pascal Lissouba announced an immediate cease-fire Wednesday. His rival, former Marxist ruler Denis Sassou-Nguesso, told CNN he is aware of Lissouba's cease-fire declaration, but that fighting is still continuing. Sassou-Nguesso said he will issue his own declaration later Wednesday, announcing his intent for a "peaceful resolution of this conflict."
The battle broke out last Thursday in the Central African country when Lissouba, fearing attempts to disrupt next month's presidential elections, tried to disarm the 5,000-strong Cobra militia loyal to former dictator Sassou-Nguesso.
Journalist Joe Duran describes the situation in Brazzaville
AIFF or WAV"...there is some panic..."
(320 K / 16 sec. audio)
AIFF or WAVThe shelling in the city
(288 K / 20 sec. audio)The warring sides have been deadlocked on the terms of any negotiation.
Officials close to Sassou-Nguesso told Radio France-Info that hundreds of people have been killed. The number was impossible to verify, and the government said it could not give a death toll.
Brazzaville residents said scores of bloated bodies lay uncollected in the streets. Looting had spread from other districts to the capital's central commercial area, they added.
Battle for airport halts evacuations
The sky above Brazzaville's international airport was regularly lit up by exploding shells as the two sides battled for control of the airport, according to reporters at the scene.
The fighting grounded a charter that was to ferry people to Kinshasa, capital of neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo.
Before evacuations were halted, a U.S. military C-130 plane on Tuesday flew out 30 Americans and 24 nationals from other countries. Washington said it had not yet decided whether about 60 remaining Americans needed rescue.
French forces flown to the Republic of Congo picked up 1,500 people from 52 nations Monday and Tuesday, bringing them by boat or military convoy to the Brazzaville airport. About half have been flown on to Libreville in Gabon or Pointe-Noire on the Republic of Congo coast.
There were still about 800 French in Brazzaville, the French said. The Republic of Congo is a former French colony.
Sassou-Nguesso ruled the Republic of Congo for more than a decade until he was forced to introduce political reforms in 1991.
Lissouba was elected president the following year, leading Sassou-Nguesso to claim vote fraud.
Two thousand people died in the fighting that followed.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Related story:
- French report progress toward cease-fire in Republic of Congo
- Congo evacuations proceed as fighting rages
- French report progress toward cease-fire in Republic of Congo - June 10, 1997
- Congo evacuations proceed as fighting rages - June 9, 1997
Related sites:
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- World Regions: Africa Sites
- Zaire - Relief Web
- Great Lakes Crisis: UN High Commissioner for Refugees
- Crisis in Central Africa - Interaction
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