BLOODSHED IN CONGO

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30172, 2 July 1963, Page 18

BLOODSHED IN CONGO

Independence Observances fN-ZP-A.-Reuter—Copyright) UDOFOWVWLLE. July 1*Rie Ooogfo Republic today cetetmted ite thaid anniversary at independence from Beaten rate. frewtant'Joseph Kaaavubu toaufttsvttod a new blue, yellow and red Congo flag. The red sigmfies toe Mood of thnee who died Dor indepmdToday’s celebrattoos follow the end of Katanga's secession m January. They are the first since 19® in which the Central Government's authority is felt throughout the Congo's 900)000 square miles. The Prime Mrister. Mir C. Aidouta. dedicated a street to Patrice Lumumba, the Congo's first Prime Minis'er. who was murdered in political chaos in 1960. Mr M. Tshombe, former leader of K’teinga. lay in bed in a Paris clinic under police guard today. He went there two weeis ago for trecutmcwt of a kidney ccmptaittt and was at fl rst refused entry to France because he had no regular passport. The French authorities eventually allowed him in on condition that he left after treatment. He has now applied for a passport, from the Congolese Central Government, whose authority he disputed and which is now dividing his secessionist province into three.

Mr Tshombe has denied reports that he was retiring from politics or seeking exile in Europe.

Diplomatic sources said his only hope of retaining political influence would be to run for office in the newly-created province of Eastern Katanga, which includes his former capital of Elisabethville.