ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 10, 1997 TAG: 9704100056
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: KINSHASA, ZAIREO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The man who has ruled Zaire for 32 years is ``about to become a creature of history,'' the White House said.
President Mobutu Sese Seko had soldiers pull the prime minister off the streets Wednesday as his reign appeared to crumble even further. The White House urged him to make way for a democratic government, calling his three-decade dictatorship ``a creature of history.''
The Zairian president, who had declared a nationwide emergency on Tuesday in response to rebel advances, named an army general as the new prime minister. Gen. Likulia Bolongo had previously served Mobutu as defense minister and army chief of staff.
Likulia promised a crackdown on civil liberties, saying his primary goal was ``restoration of public order.''
The general, dressed in his army uniform and surrounded by four other officers, did not elaborate on the crackdown at a news conference, but said measures would be taken against the media if they published articles that ``affected the morale of the military.''
Several foreign journalists, including an Associated Press photographer and APTV cameraman, were beaten and had their cameras stolen by soldiers during an anti-government demonstration Wednesday.
In southeastern Zaire, rebels bent on ending Mobutu's nearly 32-year rule reportedly captured Lubumbashi, Zaire's second-largest city. They have already captured the eastern third of Zaire.
The United States increased pressure on Mobutu to leave, with White House spokesman Mike McCurry saying U.S. officials want a transitional government, then elections.
``That clearly reflects our view that Mobutuism is about to become a creature of history,'' McCurry said.
Last week, political parties allied against Mobutu named Etienne Tshisekedi as their choice for prime minister. Mobutu accepted his nomination in what was seen as a ploy to split his opponents between Tshisekedi's supporters and those ready to join rebel leader Laurent Kabila.
Tshisekedi is revered in Zaire for the suffering he endured during his decades of opposition to Mobutu. Since his appointment, he had moved to undermine Mobutu by ordering parliament dissolved, annulling the constitution and offering Cabinet posts to the rebels.
The opposition lawmakers who had nominated him said he had gone too far and they joined Mobutu supporters in calling for his ouster. Wednesday, Tshisekedi tried to lead thousands of supporters to the prime minister's office to assume control.
Walking in the huge crowd with his hand raised in a victory salute, Tshisekedi confronted a row of soldiers backed by troops in armored personnel carriers. The showdown took place near a monument to peace and freedom erected in a traffic circle.
Mobutu's son, Capt. Mobutu Kongulu, appeared to be leading the soldiers. Hundreds of them fired tear gas at the marchers, with one canister landing near Tshisekedi. He was hustled into an army vehicle and driven away.
``Mr. Tshisekedi was brought to his home for his own safety,'' Defense Ministry spokesman Leon Kalima said. ``He is not under house arrest.''
Tshisekedi, later seen at home conferring with aides, refused to speak to reporters.
Bruno Tshibala, one of the founders of Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress, said the protests would continue. ``We are living through the last acts of a desperate administration about to fall,'' he said.
A top aide to Tshisekedi said the ousted prime minister was pleased with the White House comment. ``The U.S. administration has finally come to see that the post-Mobutu era has arrived,'' Mtumbabo Clement said.
The rebels, meanwhile, said Tshisekedi's removal was insignificant to their cause.
``He never had any power anyway,'' said Mawampanga Mwana Nanga, economic minister at rebel headquarters in the eastern city of Goma.
LENGTH: Medium: 84 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS. Etienne Tshisekedi leads protestersby CNBtoward the prime minister's office Wednesday. Tshisekedi was fired
Wednesday. His attempt to reclaim his short-lived power did not
succeed, as soldiers took him away. color. Graphic: Map by AP.