- Title: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: REBELS DISPLAY CAPTURED SOLDIERS.
- Date: 19th June 1999
- Summary: LUSAMBO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (JUNE 15, 1999)(REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/MV/TRACK: ARMED REBELS WALKING IN BUSH #(4 SHOTS) 0.19 3. GV: REBELS GUARDING LUSAMBO HOSPITAL 0.25 4. GV: ENTRANCE TO HOSPITAL 0.30 5. MV/TILT: WOUNDED ZIMBABWEAN SOLDIERS 0.36 6. CU: ID CARDS OF CAPTURED ZIMBABWEAN AND NAMIBIAN SOLDIERS (3 SHOTS0 0.49 7. GV: WIDESHOT OF NAMIBIAN AND ZIMBABWEAN SOLDIERS 0.58 8. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) NAMIBIAN SOLDIER RONALD AYAMBO "That time I was fighting.. now the rebels were much stronger that us and we decided to run away after that. Thats why we went every one..one, one, one (scattered) to one side and then I was captured." 1.19 9. CU: NAMIBIAN SOLDIER/ SOLDIER (2 SHOTS) 1.25 10. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) ZIMBABWEAN LANCE-CORPORAL CHIROMONGE FRESH "There was heavy fighting for about 10-11 days then we decided to withdraw because we were defeated, (question - why were you defeated?) I am sure they were stronger than us." 1.45 11. GV: CAPTURED GOVERNMENT SOLDIERS 1.52 12. SV/CU: REBELS GUARDING PRISONERS/ REBEL SOLDIER (2 SHOTS) 2.01 13. GV: SHOTS OF CAPTURED AMMUNITION IN BOXES (2 SHOTS0 2.13 14. GV/TILT: OFFICER DISPLAYING CAPTURED ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN 2.30 15. CU/MV: CAPTURED AMMUNITION AND WEAPONS (2 SHOTS) 2.37 16. GV: CROWD CHEERING ON STREET AND REBEL SOLDIER STANDING NEXT TO ANTI-AIRCRAFT GUN 2.47 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 4th July 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LUSAMBO, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
- City:
- Country: Congo, Democratic Republic of
- Reuters ID: LVAD4ULBZ2QHNL7DD5E4F02O1H9Q
- Story Text: Rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have
displayed Zimbabwean and Namibian soldiers captured in
Lusambo, in their slow push toward the country's main diamond
mining centre of Mbuji-Mayi 220 kilometers away.
The rebels appeared in firm control of the town which
they captured on 12th June after four days of fierce fighting
during which seven civilians and two rebels were killed.
Dozens of Congolese government soldiers were captured
along with six Namibians and two Zimbabweans.Several wounded
Zimbabweans were caught and hospitalized at Lusambo Hospital.
Captured soldiers who spoke of their defence force
crumbling and everybody fleeing for their lives, admitted to
having lost to a superior force.
"That time I was fighting..now the rebels were much
stronger than us and we decided to run away after that.That's
why we went every one..one, one, one (scattered) to one side
and then I was captured," said Ronald Ayambo a Namibian
soldier.
The rebels say that they are continuing their march
towards the major diamond center of Mbuji-Mayi.
The fall of Mbuji-Mayi, home to most of the Congo's
diamond mining wealth, would be a huge financial blow to the
government and could tilt the balance of the war in the
rebels' favour.
But rebel commanders say the town is heavily defended by
thousands of Zimbabwean troops backing Kabila's embattled
army.
Zimbabweans equipped with helicopters, jet fighters and
tanks are currently holding advance positions north and east
of Mbuji-Mayi to fend off rebel troops, whose fighting force
is led primarily by Rwandan army soldiers.
The Congolese rebels are backed by Ugandan and Rwandan
troops in their efforts to oust President Laurent Kabila whom
they helped topple the late dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.
Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola have all sent in troops to
assist Kabila and have succeeded in slowing the rebel advance.
They have also suffered casualties and had dozens of men taken
prisoner.
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