CONGO ARMY IN POWER

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31774, 3 September 1968, Page 15

CONGO ARMY IN POWER

(N.Z P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

KINSHASA, September 2.

The Congo’s (Brazzaville) Army leaders today confined the country’s forces to their barracks as they grappled with the crisis resulting from two days of bloody fighting between troops and youths.

Diplomatic circles in Kinshasa speculated on the fate of President Alphonse Massemba Debat, said to have been arrested on Saturday. About 300 people are reported to have been killed in the fighting on Friday and Saturday between elements of the Cuban-trained youth league of the President’s M.N.R. party and the Congolese National Army. As Army leaders today tried to bring the situation under control, they confined to barracks all troops, police and gendarmerie forces and youth league members. A communique read over Radio Brazzaville last night called on the population to return to work today or face serious consequences.

President Massemba Debat —deposed for 24 hours last month by the Army, but later restored to power—appealed on Friday to both sides to lay down their arms. On Saturday he was said to have been led away handcuffed to an unknown destination.

As they speculated on the President’s fate, diplomatic sources said no official announcement had been made of his deposition and they recalled his return to office last month.

They pointed out that President Massemba Debat had strong support from his Bakongo tribe, which represents 53 per cent of the country’s population.