Conflicts Loom as Zaire, Uganda Trade Threats

War-torn Central Africa lurched toward fresh conflicts Sunday with Zaire and Uganda threatening reprisals against each other while renewed fighting in Burundi sent thousands fleeing for safety.

In the Zairian capital, Kinshasa, Information Minister Boguo Makeli accused Ugandan troops of attacking Zaire’s territory around Kasindi and said Zaire was planning a counterattack.

Uganda’s minister of state for defense denied the reports but admitted his troops had shelled positions belonging to suspected Ugandan rebels backed by Zairian army troops. Amama Mbabazi said his forces had not crossed the border.

But Saturday, the government newspaper, New Vision, said Ugandan troops had crossed into eastern Zaire on Thursday to attack rebel bases. It said 23 rebels were killed in the raid.

Adding to the turmoil, a volcano in Zaire close to the border with Rwanda and Uganda erupted Sunday, sending a river of lava at least six miles through the tropical rain forest in the Virunga national park, home to rare mountain gorillas.

Rwandan Hutu refugees camped close to Nyamulagira volcano had fled the area several weeks earlier ahead of advancing Zairian rebels and were not believed to be in danger.

Underlining the chaos reigning now in the region, retired Maj. Pierre Buyoya, the military leader of neighboring Burundi, flew out of the country Sunday as more fighting there was reported.