CLOSED BORDER POST; CARS QUEUE ON ZAMBIAN SIDE; PEOPLE WAITING; QUEUE ON CONGO SIDE. (NATURAL SOUND)




Initials RGH/VS/CT/SGM


EDITORS: THERE IS NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CONGO-KINSHASA GOVERNMENT CLAIMED YESTERDAY (FRIDAY) TO HAVE REGAINED CONTROL OVER TWO EASTERN CITIES SEIZED BY REBELS AND FOREIGN MERCENARIES ON WEDNESDAY (JULY 5). UP UNTIL YESTERDAY, CONGO-KINSHASA BORDER POSTS WITH ZAMBIA WERE CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC.

THE OFFICIAL CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT RADIO ANNOUNCED THAT GOVERNMENT FORCES HAD RECAPTURED BUKAVU AND MOST OF KISANGANI (FORMERLY STANLEYVILLE) AFTER BITTER FIGHTING.

A MIXED FORCE OF LOCAL SETTLERS, REBELLIOUS TROOPS FROM KATANGA PROVINCE -- WHICH BORDERS ZAMBIA -- AND A FOREIGN MERCEMARY UNIT SERVING WITH THE CONGOLESE ARMY CAPTURED BUKAVU.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT, FOREIGN MERCENARIES TOOK LOCAL FORCES BY SURPRISE WHEN THEY LANDED IN TWO PLANES EARLY ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT KISANGANI, THE EASTERN CONGO'S LARGEST CITY AND THE SCENE OF A BLOODY UPRISING BY KATANGESE TROOPS A YEAR AGO.

THE CONGO CHARGED AT THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL IN NEW YORK YESTERDAY THAT AN "INTERNATIONAL MAFIA" WAS TRYING TO OVERTHROW PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU AND CALLED FOR U.N. ACTION TO HALT THE CONSPIRACY.

ON THE ZAMBIAN SIDE OF ALL BORDER POSTS WITH CONGO-KINSHASA, THERE WERE LONG QUEUES YESTERDAY OF TRUCKS AND BUSES AND MANY PEOPLE ON FOOT ALSO WAITED FOR THE BORDER TO RE-OPEN.