CONGO-REPUBLIC: DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST OVER DEATH SENTENCE ON FORMER REBELLION LEADER PIERRE MULELE.

Record ID: 433627

  • Title: CONGO-REPUBLIC: DEMONSTRATORS PROTEST OVER DEATH SENTENCE ON FORMER REBELLION LEADER PIERRE MULELE.
  • Date: 9th October 1968
  • Summary: DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE EMBASSY; PLACARDS; DEMONSTRATION SCENES. Initials PK/VS/MR/SIM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 24th October 1968 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO REPUBLIC
  • Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
  • Reuters ID: LVADUHR10YFUN0SGY7XQ0NLSRTV3
  • Story Text: FORMER CONGOLESE REBELLION LEADER PIERRE MULELE, WHO RETURNED VOLUNTARILY FROM EXILE BELIEVING HE WOULD BENEFIT FROM AN AMNESTY, WAS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN EXECUTED BY A FIRING SQUAD TODAY (WEDNESDAY). HIS APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY WAS REJECTED BY THE CONGO-KINSHASA HEAD OF STATE, PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU. THE DEATH SENTENCE ON MULELE, IMPOSED BY A MILITARY TRIBUNAL YESTERDAY, CAST A CLOUD OVER RELATIONS BETWEEN CONGO-KINSHASA AND CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE, WITH MORE THAN 1,000 PROTESTORS DEMONSTRATING OUTSIDE THE CONGO-KINSHASA EMBASSY IN BRAZZAVILLE.

    THE DEMONSTRATORS ATTACKED THE EMBASSY AFTER CLIMBING FENCES SURROUNDING THE BUILDING. THEY BROKE DOORS AND SMASHED WINDOWS WITH STONES.

    EMBASSY STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE EVALUATED AS THE PROTESTORS WAVED PLACARDS AND SHOUTED PROTESTS.

    THE 39-YEAR-OLD PIERRE MULELE, A LEADER OF THE 1963-1964 REBELLION IN KWILY PROVINCE, WAS CLAIMED TO HAVE FORMED A COMMANDO GROUP IN CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE, WHERE HE WAS IN EXILE.

    THE CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE GOVERNMENT FORMALLY PROTESTED AGAINST MULELE'S ARREST, SAYING IT HAD RECEIVED SECURITY GUARANTEES FROM KINSHASA BEFORE ALLOWING MULELE TO CONTACT HIS EMBASSY ABOUT RETURNING.

    MR. AKAFOMO ANTOINE, CONGO-KINSHASA'S CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN BRAZZAVILLE, AFTER BEING SUMMONED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DECLINED TO MAKE ANY COMMENT ON THE EVENTS.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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