ZAIRE: MASS RALLY FOLLOWING ABORTIVE COUP ATTEMPT...AND PRESIDENT MOBUTU ALLEGES FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT.

Record ID: 215320

  • Title: ZAIRE: MASS RALLY FOLLOWING ABORTIVE COUP ATTEMPT...AND PRESIDENT MOBUTU ALLEGES FOREIGN INVOLVEMENT.
  • Date: 20th June 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV Demonstrators carrying banners march followed by band (3 shots) 0.13 2. MV Anti-imperialist banner 0.18 3. SV PAN Demonstrator walking past with farming implement and leaves 0.22 4. GV & MV Band and demonstrators with banners (4 shots) 0.35 5. MV Military personnel in parade 0.38 6. LV & GV EXT Stadium ( 2 shots) 0.43 7.
  • Embargoed: 5th July 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KINSHASA, ZAIRE
  • City:
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Reuters ID: LVACLNTD8UQLDJYM3MLLU89GLIUN
  • Story Text: More than 500,000 people marched through the streets of Zaire's capital, Kinshasa, on Wednesday (18 June) following reports of an abortive coup to overthrow President Mobutu Sese Seko a few days earlier.

    A leading Kinshasa newspaper, Salongo, has alleged that the plot to overthrow and assassinate President Mobutu was backed and organised by the United States through the channels of the Central Intelligence Agency. AT least three leading Zaire Army generals and a number of senior officers close to the president are said to be implicated.

    Many of Wednesday's demonstrators carried banners challenging the United States and all "imperialist" powers. They later assembled outside the U.S. Cultural Centre in the capital, chanting and shouting slogans.

    Addressing a mass rally in the May 20th Stadium later that evening, President Mobutu told the crowd he had "irrefutable proof" that highly-specialised weapons had been distributed to those involved in the assassination plot. He alleged foreign intervention....but named no specific power.

    Following further allegations in the Kinshasa press, the Zaire Government on Thursday ordered the expulsion of U.S. ambassador Dean Hinton. The United States has consistently denied any involvement in the abortive coup and stressed its good relations with Zaire. It was reported in Kinshasa on Friday that a special U.S. delegation will be sent to Zaire in the near future to discuss the coup question.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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