Zaire Police Block Parliament Opposed to Mobutu
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KINSHASA, Zaire — Paramilitary police sealed off a conference hall Tuesday and prevented a meeting of Zaire’s transitional Parliament in a fresh strong-arm gesture against the opposition-dominated legislature.
Police blocked all access to the People’s Palace, a cavernous building in a quiet corner of Kinshasa where the Parliament, the High Council of the Republic, holds its plenary meetings.
The Parliament is locked in conflict with President Mobutu Sese Seko, who is resisting democratic reforms threatening his 28-year rule in the huge Central African country. Each side backs a rival prime minister and a rival government.
Witnesses said the blockade started Monday night. It was not clear if anyone was trapped inside the building.
Parliament member Kinkela Vi Kansi said the session would be postponed until next week.
Mobutu appointed Faustin Birindwa prime minister on March 29 after saying he had fired his archenemy, the opposition’s premier, Etienne Tshisekedi.
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