Скачать или смотреть GABON: PRESIDENT MOBUTU VISIT FOR TALKS WITH REGIONAL LEADERS

(8 May 1997) Natural Sound

Zaire's President Mobutu is in Gabon for talks with regional leaders, following the recent failure of talks with rebels.

Further meetings were planned Thursday with the presidents of Gabon, Congo, Chad, Central African Republic and Equatorial Guinea.

The Zairean government insists Mobutu's trip was planned long ago and was not prompted by the rebel advance on the capital.

But the departure of the 66-year-old Zairean dictator, ill with prostate cancer, has raised questions about whether he plans ever to return to his homeland.

Gabon's president, Omar Bongo, gave Mobutu a red-carpet welcome when the ailing 66- year-old Zairean ruler flew in Wednesday for the two-day meeting in Libreville.

But was Mobutu's arrival in fact the start of his exile from Zaire?

Rebel leader Laurent Kabila is advancing ever closer on Zaire's capital, Kinshasa, fuelling speculation Mobutu will never return home.

Mobutu and Bongo drove to talks where they met for two hours with Presidents Pascal Lissouba of the Congo, Idris Deby of Chad and Felix Papasse of the Central African Republic.

Mobutu did not appear for a photo opportunity with other leaders, and Bongo said the Zairean was too ill to attend. Mobutu has been under treatment for prostate cancer.

The leaders were to meet again on Thursday, after the arrival of the president of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Ngema.

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