Ngoma calls for broadbased movement

Rassemblement congolaise pour la democratie (RCD) dissident Arthur Z’Ahidi Ngoma has turned down the post of deputy chairman of the rebel movement. In a broadcast by Radio France Internationale yesterday, Ngoma said he was more concerned with democratic principles: “If we somewhat move away from that, then I think my presence is not necessary.” He condemned the failure of the RCD to create a broadbased democratic movement involving “significant” political organisations in the country that opposed the Mobutu regime. Neither did Ngoma rule out talks with the Kinshasa government: “It is said that in politics there are no solutions, there are only negotiations.”