With President Mobutu Sese Seko out of the country, rebels pushed on toward the capital in what could be their final offensive to overthrow his 32-year rule.
Heavy fighting was reported in Kenge, 120 miles east of the capital, and aid agencies said Thursday that hundreds of people had been killed, including as many as 200 civilians.The rebels claimed that Mobutu had enlisted mercenaries from Rwanda, Angola and France to help stave off their final advance in the civil war that began in September. The government denied the charge.
Following a failed summit with rebel leader Laurent Kabila, Mobutu flew off Wednesday to Libreville, Gabon, for meetings with other African presidents. His aides insisted the trip was planned long ago, but many saw it as a way to gracefully get the ailing 66-year-old dictator out of Zaire before Kabila's forces reached the capital.
Thursday, wearing his trademark leopard skin cap, Mobutu walked hand-in-hand with President Omar Bongo of Gabon down a red carpet leading to the presidential palace in Libreville. Other leaders at today's talks included the presidents of Congo, Chad, the Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, Mobutu's information minister said some foreign journalists will be expelled from Zaire for reporting that Mobutu was heading into exile.
"There is a true infiltration of journalists belonging to the enemy camp," said Information Minister Kin-Kiey Mulumba.
He also blamed media reports of rebel advances for the decision by some international airlines to stop flying into the capital. Air France and Swissair have diverted some of their Kinshasa-bound flights.
U.S. envoy Bill Richardson was in Paris Thursday to discuss the U.S. approach to peace in Zaire. France was among countries that for decades helped prop up Mobutu.
Richardson said negotiators were pushing for a peaceful transition of power, and that there was reason to hope Mobutu would meet again with Kabila.