TSHOMBE OUT WALKING IN PARIS.




Initials



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FORMER PRIME MINISTER OF THE CONGO (LEOPOLDVILLE), MOISE TSHOMBE, ENDED SPECULATIONS ABOUT HIS WHEREABOUTS TODAY (WEDNESDAY), WHEN HE WAS IN PARIS. MR TSHOMBE HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF HIGH TREASON BY THE CONGO GOVERNMENT.

MR TSHOMBE DROPPED OUT OF SIGHT LAST WEEK AFTER THE CONGO GOVERNMENT HAD BRANDED HIM A TRAITOR, AND DEPRIVED HIM OF HIS PARLIAMENTARY SEAT, IN ADDITION TO ACCUSING HIM OF TREASON.

HA HAS BEEN IN EUROPE SINCE JANUARY.

MR TSHOMBE, WHO IS 46-YEAR -OLD, BECAME INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN WHEN HE LED THE KATANGA SECESSION BEFORE FLEEING TO EUROPE IN 1963. HE RETURNED IN 1964 AS PREMIER OF THE ENTIRE CONGO BUT WAS LATER SACKED AFTER A FEUD WITH FORMER PRESIDENT KASABUBU.

THE CONGOLESE (LEOPOLDVILLE) PARLIAMENT ACTED LAST WEEK AFTER THEY HAD BEEN TOLD BY PRESIDENT MOBUTU THAT MR TSHOMBE HAD BEEN MAKING STATEMENTS AGAINST HIS COUNTRY WHILE ABROAD, AND THAT THIS WAS INADMISSABLE.

MR TSHOMBE, WHO HAS BEEN IN PARIS SINCE 9TH MAY TO VISIT HIS SON, LEON, WHO HAD AN OPERATION THERE, IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SPENT FOUR DAYS IN BRUSSELS BEFORE TRAVELLING TO PARIS.