Text:
http://www.mg.co.za/mg/za/news.html#drc
Source App: [ZA*NOW December 15 1998 - Netscape]
Zim aircraft downed
in Congo offensiveOWN CORRESPONDENTS, Harare, Kigali | Monday 10.15pm.
REBELS in the Democratic Republic of Congo said on Monday they had shot down a Zimbabwean jet fighter and a helicopter gunship during a counter-offensive on a
southeastern, rebel-held town by allied troops loyal to President Laurent Kabila.
Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, leader of the rebels fighting to oust President Laurent Kabila, said his forces repulsed attacks by government forces and allied Zimbabwean and Namibian soldiers at Kabalo, some 1 500km south-east of the capital, Kinshasa, and shot down a MiG-21 fighter jet and a helicopter gunship. In Zimbabwe, military authorities admitted to losing one helicopter gunship and an unspecified number of troops in continuing fighting for Kabalo, the Congo River port and an important railway junction in mineral-rich Kabila's home Katanga province. State-owned daily The Herald quoted the headquarters of the Zimbabwean, Angolan and Namibian troops fighting in support of Kabila as saying that 80 rebels were killed and that fighting is continuing.
* Meanwhile, it is reported that Kabila will attend the Organisation of African Unity summit in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou on Thursday and Friday. Rebel representatives will also attend the summit, although they will not officially take part in debates. All the countries caught up in the conflict will be represented, with only Angola yet to confirm it will take part. Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Chad are
backing Kabila against Rwandan and Ugandan troops who are fighting alongside rebel forces in eastern DRC. -- AFPMonday's early ZA*NOW report
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