Zaire Rejects U.N. Plan to End War; Talks May Be Today

The government here rejected a U.N. proposal to end Zaire’s civil war, describing it Wednesday as a “timid advance” that fails to condemn neighboring African countries for militarily supporting the rebels.

Nevertheless, South African President Nelson Mandela said the two sides may begin peace talks as early as today.

“The contending parties in that conflict . . . have made a request that they would like to meet in South Africa,” Mandela said in Cape Town after holding talks with African leaders.

Mandela said that rebel leader Laurent Kabila was in Kigali, Rwanda, awaiting a flight to Cape Town for the talks. An envoy for Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko also was in the region, Mandela said, without naming the envoy.

Zaire did not immediately comment on Mandela’s announcement.

In New York, U.N. spokesman Fred Eckhard said Secretary-General Kofi Annan welcomed Mandela’s efforts, which he said complemented the United Nations’ work.

The peace plan endorsed by the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday calls for an immediate end to the fighting in eastern Zaire; the withdrawal of all foreign forces, including mercenaries; reaffirmation of the territorial integrity of states in the region; protection of refugees; and the convening of an international conference to resolve the conflict.

Zairian Foreign Minister Gerard Kamanda wa Kamanda rejected the proposal Wednesday, calling it a “timid advance” that “we sincerely regret does not condemn aggression against Zaire.”

Zaire long has accused Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda of supporting and supplying the rebels who have seized a 900-mile-long swath of territory along the eastern border. The rebels are seeking to topple Mobutu, who has ruled for 32 years.