[5] Rebels Repulse Kabila Forces At Kindu

Text:

http://www.africanews.org/central/congo-kinshasa/stories/19990304_feat5.html

Rebels Repulse Kabila Forces At Kindu

March 4, 1999

Kampala - Ugandan security and Congolese sources said forces loyal to President Laurent Kabila were repulsed soon after they attacked the rebel-held eastern Congolese town of Kindu.

Sources said the allied troops that attacked Kindu came from Kitaka Kombo, about 150 kms southwest of the strategic town which the rebels captured October 12. The source said the attackers were repulsed and retreated to Kalima.

But one source blamed the attack on a poor strategy by the local commanders whom he said ignored the nearby Kitaka Kombe and opted to fight towards the Mbuji Mayi, capital of the diamond rich North Kasai province. The officials told Reuters in Kinshasa the Congolese army had attacked the strategic town at the weekend and entered it Monday. They were now fighting for control of the airport. "They had been battling around Kindu for two days," they said.

Copyright © 1999 New Vision. Distributed via Africa News Online (www.africanews.org)



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