CROWDS IN CENTRAL SQUARE; PRESIDENT NGOUABI ENTERING BUILDING; PRESIDENT SPEAKING; TROOPS; AUDIENCE LISTENING.




Initials KM/VS/JH/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE CHIEF OF STATE, MAJOR MARIEN NGOUABI, ON THURSDAY (13 NOV) ACCUSED NEIGHBOURING CONGO-KINSHASA OF HELPING IN THE RECENT ATTEMPTED COUP IN BRAZZAVILLE.

HE TOLD A MASS MEETING IN THE CAPITAL THAT THE PLOT WAS DEVISED IN KINSHASA WITH THE COMPLICITY OF NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) COUNTRIES. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT SEVERAL MEMBERS OF KINSHASA'S RULING POPULAR MOVEMENT FOR THE REVOLUTION WERE AMONG THE COUP PLOTTERS.

THE PRESIDENT ADDED THAT HE WAS OPPOSED TO THE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE RINGLEADERS BUT THAT HE WOULD ABIDE BY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE. EARLIER A COURT MARTIAL SENTENCED FOUR MEN TO DEATH FOR THEIR PART IN THE COUP ATTEMPT. EIGHT OTHERS WERE CONDEMNED TO DEATH IN THEIR ABSENCE AND 22 RECEIVED PRISON SENTENCES OF BETWEEN THREE AND 20 YEARS. ANOTHER 26 PEOPLE WERE ACQUITTED.

SO FAR THERE HAS BEEN NO REACTION TO PRESIDENT NGOUABI'S ACCUSATIONS AGAINST GENERAL MOBUTU'S REGIME IN KINSHASA.

RELATIONS BETWEEN BRAZZAVILLE AND KINSHASA HAVE BEEN STRAINED FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DIPLOMATIC TIES WERE BROKEN LAST YEAR WHEN KINSHASA EXECUTED REBEL LEADER PIERRE MULELE.