France, U.S. in joint bid to stop Congo fighting
July 2, 1997
Web posted at: 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT)PARIS (CNN) -- France and the United States have launched a joint bid to try to end the Republic of Congo's month-old civil war between President Pascal Lissouba and his rival Denis Sassou-Nguesso, the French foreign ministry said on Wednesday.
"France and the United States have begun a joint approach to the warring parties in Congo to convince them to pursue negotiations through the international mediators' committee chaired by (Gabonese President) Omar Bongo and cease hostilities without delay," ministry spokesman Jacques Rummelhardt said.
He told a news briefing that U.S. envoy to Congo Aubrey Hooks, who has left Brazzaville, had talks on Tuesday in Paris with the head of the ministry's director for African affairs, Jean-Didier Roisin.
Paris and Washington were "seriously concerned by the situation in Brazzaville which brings destruction and suffering to the Congolese people," Rummelhardt said.
Fighting resumes after cease-fire
Artillery fire resumed on Tuesday after a weekend cease-fire cut the intensity of the fighting.
The sound of exploding mortar shells engulfed the Congolese capital of Brazzaville again on Wednesday. Government and rebel forces accused each other of resuming hostilities.
French ambassador Raymond Cesaire was remaining in permanent contact with the warring sides despite "very difficult conditions," Rummelhardt said.
Hundreds of people have been killed since Lissouba tried to arrest Sassou-Nguesso, his immediate predecessor in office, and disarm his private army.
Lissouba wants a constitutional commission to extend for three months his term in office, which was due to end with a now-postponed poll on July 27.
Sassou-Nguesso, who was to have stood against him in the election, says this is not possible and demands power-sharing for an interim period.
Bongo's mediation efforts have centered on the dispatch of an African intervention force, but the United Nations says there must be a lasting peace first in oil-rich Congo.
France has pulled out its 1,250 troops from Congo after evacuating thousands of foreigners. It has refused to let its soldiers take part in a buffer force but has offered logistical help if such a force was formed.
Reuters contributed to this report.
- Message Board: Republic of Congo
- Newsmaker Profile: Professor Pascal Lissouba - Congolese President
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