Ousted rebel leader speaks of "coup"

Ousted rebel leader, Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, has said he is the victim of a coup within the Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD), Radio France Internationale reported. According to the Rwanda News Agency (RNA), a statement read by rebel spokesman Commander Sylvain Mbuki said a new leadership would be announced shortly and that until then, the RCD military leaders were in charge. Wamba told RNA the decision was taken unilaterally by his opponents within the RCD. In an earlier interview with the Tanzanian 'Guardian' daily, Wamba had spoken of disagreements between the RCD's political and military wings. He said the military wanted a quick victory to get rid of Kabila as quickly as possible, whereas the political leaders were more interested in long-term changes for the country. "Our prime task is to educate the people so they can choose their own leader," he said. "If we fail, a new Mobutu or Kabila will just turn up." He warned that "arbitrary decision-making" within the RCD could simply lead to the emergence of another dictator. Deo Safari, at the DRC embassy in Nairobi, hailed the reshuffle in the RCD leadership. He claimed it came about "because the majority [of RCD members] want to speak to the government".