Kabila Returns to Capital, Says West Plots Against Him

Returning to the capital Sunday from meetings aimed at firming up his shaky regime, President Laurent Kabila stepped up his attacks on Western governments and the press, alleging a foreign plot to end his short rule.

Kabila’s comments came as his army reportedly lost new ground to advancing rebels in western Congo. Leaders of the rebel movement--a coalition of Tutsi fighters, Rwandan soldiers and disgruntled members of Kabila’s army--said they had captured the western Congo river port town of Matadi and were fighting to take up positions closer to Kinshasa.

Kabila reportedly met with several Cabinet ministers over the weekend in Lubumbashi, Kabila’s stronghold during his crusade last year to oust Mobutu Sese Seko.

In Kinshasa, Kabila accused foreign journalists of a conspiracy against his government, saying, “We must defy their plot against our country.” He did not elaborate, but state-controlled radio and TV have been increasing their attacks on Western governments, accusing them of trying to destabilize his regime by reporting on rebel gains.