(17 Aug 1998) Eng/French/Nat
Rebels fighting to oust President Kabila in the Democratic Republic of Congo have announced the members of a transition team that they say is preparing to take power.
Many in the rebel movement helped Kabila oust longtime dictator Mobutu Sese Seko in May 1997, but now say they have been marginalised by the government.
Also on Sunday, Kabila met several cabinet ministers in Lubumbashi and made a brief visit to neighbouring Angola, where he tried to rally support for his government.
The Congolese Democratic Coalition made its first official appearance on Sunday - presenting its members to the international community.
The coalition called on all Congolese to join the fight against President Kabila.
The C-D-C also said it wanted the international community to aid the rebel uprising by denying support to the government.
The coalition is led by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, a professor and longtime opponent of former dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
In a lengthy political declaration, he said the movement would establish a democratic republic and unity among all Congolese.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"Our Congolese movement, the Congalese Coalition for Democracy, it's a movement of a Congalese force who are for democracy and who want to flush out dictatorship."
SUPER CAPTION: Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, President of Congolese Democratic Coalition
The movement also includes Kabila's former foreign minister, Bizima Karaha.
He says the coalition wants to eradicate the corruption, nepotism, arbitrary arrests and assassinations that have dogged the Kabila government.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"And I tried to contribute to bring peace and stability for our people. And to make sure that there is a united Congo, there is a democratic Congo, there is a Congo where human rights are respected, but unfortunately things that we had agreed with Kabila when we were in Goma and started out movement, we, members of his government realised that Kabila was a liar, Kabila was a troubalist (trouble-maker), Kabila had nepotism and there was no way Kabila could corrupt everyone in Congo and that's the reason we decided to leave."
SUPER CAPTION: Bizima Karaha, Kabila's former foreign minister
The coalition says a government will be formed once Kinshasa is in rebel hands, and although the C-D-C has promised elections, it says it's too soon to speculate on a date.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"It's not about coming in and taking power, we have to bring lively elements of our society together such as morale and spirit."
SUPER CAPTION: Arthur Ngoma, opposition politician
Since they started their revolt on August 2, the rebels have taken over eastern Congo and flown thousands of troops to the far west, closing in on Kinshasa from both sides.
The chief rebel commander - Jean-Pierre Ondekane - says the rebels are targeting Songololo, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) southwest of Kinshasa, after capturing the Congo River port of Matadi and the Inga power plant.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"In reference to the advance near Kinshasa, there is no combat, these people have abandoned their weapons and we are recovering those weapons and giving them to the ex-FAZ (Mobutu's army) who have been abandoned and we're giving them those weapons so we can continue our advance."
SUPER CAPTION: Commander Jean-Pierre Ondekane, chief rebel commander
With tensions mounting in Kinshasa, foreigners have been fleeing the capital on chartered flights and across the Congo River to the neighbouring Republic of Congo.
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