Congolese troops patrol in Kinshasa

In this story:

• Kabila attacks Western media
• 'Rats fleeing the ship'
• Related stories and sites

KINSHASA, Congo (CNN) -- After an absence of several days, President Laurent Kabila returned to Kinshasa on Sunday vowing to defeat the rebels fighting to overthrow him.

"We are here to stay. Whatever happens, the aggressors will fail," Kabila told state television after he arrived.

But the rebels, a coalition of minority Tutsis, Rwandan soldiers and disgruntled members of Kabila's army, said they have captured the western town of Matadi and are fighting to move closer to Kinshasa.

Fighting was reported near the town of Songololo, about 155 miles (250 kilometers) southwest of the capital, according to a Western diplomat and a former military commander.

Kabila

Kabila has accused former allies Rwanda and Uganda, who helped him take power from veteran dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in May 1997, of invading Congo in support of the rebellion that began August 2.

"Naturally little Rwanda and Uganda will not swallow Congo. The people must be valiant. We will arm them, and 24 hours are decisive. It must be understood that victory will be ours. That is the message I have for my people," he said.

Rwanda has denied helping the rebels.

Kabila attacks Western media

Kabila also attacked the Western media, accusing journalists of conspiracy against the government.

"Since when has the Western press been in our favor?" Kabila told reporters at Kinshasa's international airport. "We must defy their plot against our country."

State-controlled radio and television also have stepped up attacks on Western governments, accusing them of trying to destabilize Kabila's government by reporting on rebel territorial gains.

The government also said it was securing bases in the east and west of the country in order to attack rebel forces.

Information Minister Didier Mumengi said on state radio the Congolese army is preparing "mopping up" operations, despite claims by the rebels to be pushing for the capital, Kinshasa.

However, rebel leaders said Sunday that they had formed a transition team that they said is preparing to take power.

The Congolese Democratic Coalition is led by Ernest Wamda dia Wamba, a professor and longtime opponent of former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, whom Kabila ousted. The coalition also includes Bizmia Karaha, Kabila's former foreign minister.

"We want to gather all political parties fighting against Kabila's dictatorship," Wamba said. "We will welcome any political parties, as long as we avoid a new dictatorship."

'Rats fleeing the ship'

Kabila has spent the last several days in the southern city of Lubumbashi, his former rebel power base.

He met with four ministers there before returning to Kinshasa. Health Minister Jean-Baptist Sondgi said the rest of the government's ministers remained in Kinshasa because Kabila asked them to stay. "If not, it will give the impression that we've all fled Kinshasa," he said.

Kabila also made a brief visit to Angola on Sunday, spending several hours in talks with Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos and Nambian President Sam Nujoma.

As tensions have risen, other governments have been evacuating their citizens from Congo. The United States closed its embassy Saturday and evacuated its remaining staff.

But Kabila's Cabinet director criticized those who were leaving, saying they were like "rats fleeing the ship."

"I don't know why they are leaving," he said on state television. "Do they think there is going to be an earthquake here? If so, they should tell us."