Text:
http://www.suntimes.co.za/suntimesarchive/1998/12/13/news/news22.htm
Kabila scuttles Congo
summit, humiliating the
French
CONGO President Laurent Kabila has scuttled a summit of Southern African leaders scheduled for next week, spattering diplomatic egg on the face of French President Jacques Chirac, who announced last month that a cease-fire would be signed at the meeting, writes RAY HARTLEY.Kabila was supposed to have signed a cease-fire with Uganda and Rwanda, who are backing rebels fighting his government, but the summit was called off by the host, Zambia, this weekend after Kabila refused to attend if rebel representatives were invited.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Marco Boni said yesterday that South Africa had been officially informed that the summit meeting and a planned meeting of regional defence and foreign ministers had been called off. Foreign Minister Alfred Nzo said earlier this week the talks would be a waste of time if the rebels were not present.
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