Talks on New Zaire Regime Stall; Some Foreign Units Leave
Embattled President Mobutu Sese Seku and his chief opponent hit a new impasse Friday in their talks on forming a new government, as France and Belgium announced the withdrawal of some of their soldiers from Zaire.
Officials from the two countries said 290 soldiers were being flown out of Zaire and said the 1,100 Western troops remaining would not be used to prop up Mobutu.
Most of the soldiers are in Kinshasa, the capital. France and Belgium said the troops had fulfilled their mission of evacuating more than 9,000 foreigners.
Those remaining will “try to prevent new unrest,” Belgian Defense Minister Guy Coeme said.
Opposition leaders, including Etienne Tshisekedi, who was named prime minister this week, have urged France and Belgium to keep their forces in Zaire until Mobutu relinquishes power. The troops were sent in following riots last week by paratroopers angry because they had not been paid.
Mobutu, under Western pressure to institute democracy after 26 years of dictatorial rule, met Friday with Tshisekedi, but news reports said they failed to break a deadlock over a new government.
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