Rebels hold Kindu, government retakes Bolobo

Meanwhile, rebel Rassemblement congolais pour la democratie (RCD) leader Ernest Wamba dia Wamba told the Associated Press (AP) today that his movement had repelled a government counter-offensive. AP quoted rebel army sources as saying government troops backed up by Zimbabwean aircraft had tried unsuccessfully to advance toward rebel-held Kindu in Maniema province. Reuters yesterday quoted government officials in Kinshasa as saying Kindu remained in rebel hands. Government forces have retaken the town of Bolobo some 250 km northeast of Kinshasa, state television said on Sunday. “The interior ministry announced that the Congolese Armed Forces have liberated Bolobo, which was occupied by former Special Presidential Division forces who were wreaking havoc there,” the television was quoted as saying. News agencies last week had reported that a new rebel group called the Union of Nationalist Republicans for the Liberation had issued a statement from neighbouring Brazzaville claiming to have captured Bolobo.