The last Belgian paracommandos left Zaire Monday after a seven-week mission to evacuate foreigners from the increasingly unstable central African state, an armed forces spokesman said.
The bulk of an 850-man force sent to Zaire and neighboring countries to coordinate the evacuation of thousands of Belgians and other Westerners will be flown home by Monday evening, the spokesman said.He said a small contingent would stay in nearby Gabon to tidy up after the operation.
Belgium decided last week to withdraw all its troops despite calls by some opposition leaders for them to stay to prevent further bloodshed after mutinous soldiers led waves of violence that began in September, killing hundreds.
Embattled President Mobutu Sese Seko, apparently irked by Belgium's tough line on the need for serious democratic reform, had told Belgium to pull out as soon as the evacuation was over.