ZAIRE: KINSHASA: REBEL LEADER LAURENT KABILA WELCOMED BY SUPPORTERS

Описание: (20 May 1997) Natural Sound

The self proclaimed president of the Democratic Republic of Congo has arrived in the capital Kinshasa three days after his troops seized the city.

Rebel leader Laurent Kabila arrived by plane to be welcomed by thousands of supporters.

They were all keen to see the man who ended Mobutu Sese Seko's 31-year dictatorship and who has promised to introduce democracy.

After having swept through this vast African country seizing swathes of land, rebel leader Laurent Kabila arrived in Kinshasa on Tuesday night to claim his prize - the capital of what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rebel forces made their way from eastern Zaire seizing city after city. But it wasn't until Saturday that rebel forces entered Kinshasa hours after Zairean president Mobutu Sese Seko fled.

Security was tight as Kabila stepped off the plane.

Although he has thousands of supporters, his troops are on the alert for former government soldiers.

Many people here are hoping Kabila will bring democracy to this vast country which has been devastated by more than 30 years of Mobutu's looting and brutality.

Kabila's cabinet ministers arrived ahead of their leader on Tuesday afternoon.

Most of them have been out of mainstream politics for some time, and one of them, the minister of Justice Celestine Luangi said he had not set foot in Kinshasa for 25 years

The ministers are apparently taking over three floors of the Intercontinental Hotel.

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