AIRCRAFT ARRIVING; REFUGEES OUT OF AIRCRAFT: STRETCHER CASES TO AMBULANCE.




Initials PW/VS/BHH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: EIGHTY-TWO REFUGEES, INCLUDING WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PRIESTS, FLEW INTO KINSHASA, CAPITAL OF CONGO-KINSHASA ON THURSDAY, FROM THE REBEL-HELD EASTERN CONGO TOWNS OF KISANGANI AND BUKAVU. THEY ARRIVED IN RED CROSS AIRCRAFT WHICH PICKED THEM UP IN BUJUMBURA, IN BURUNDI, WHERE THEY HAD FLED ACROSS THE BORDER.

AMONG THE REFUGEES WERE A NUMBER OF WOUNDED MEN AND WOMEN. ALL THE REFUGEES HAD BEEN CAUGHT IN THE TOWNS OF KISANGANI AND BUKAVU WHEN CONGOLESE REBELS AND MERCENARIES CAPTURED THE TOWNS FROM GOVERNMENT FORCES.

MANY OF THE WOMEN REFUGEES WERE IN TEARS WHEN THEY LANDED IN KINSHASA. SOME SAID THEY HAD LOST RELATIVES AND CLAIMED THAT CONGOLESE REBELS HAD SHOT EUROPEANS AND RAPED WHITE WOMEN.

MEANWHILE, THE REBELS HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM THE TWO TOWNS AND RED CROSS FLIGHTS ARE EVACUATING MORE REFUGEES. THE REBELS ARE REPORTED STREAMING SOUTH, PURSUED BY GOVERNMENT TROOPS.

BUT THERE ARE STILL NO ACCURATE REPORTS OF THE SITUATION IN EASTERN CONGO AND IT IS NOT KNOWN HOW MANY DIED IN THE REBELLION LAST WEEK.