TUESDAY, 8.00AM
FRANCE, which failed so dismally to intervene in the dying days of Zaire, proved yesterday that it is still a power in Francophone Africa by mediating a ceasefire between the Congolese army and the private militia of a former president.
French officials announced on Monday night that President Jacques Chirac has extracted agreements from president Pascal Lissouba and former dictator Denis Nguesso to stop their forces from fighting and to enter into talks. Gabonese president Omar Bongo has been nominated to chair mediation talks between the two sides.
Fighting, which lasted five days and left scores of bodies on the streets of Brazzaville, began when the army attempted to disarm Nguesso’s private militia in the run-up to elections next month.
MONDAY, 4.00PM
FRENCH soldiers continued their evacuation of foreigners from Brazzaville on Tuesday as fighting continued in the downtown area of Centreville.
The French hoped to pick up a further 500 people on Tuesday after rescuing 350, including seven South Africans on Monday. Hundreds of French paratroopers dropped from the skies on Monday to bolster their military’s rescue operation. About 1 200 French troops were expected in Brazzaville by the end of Tuesday, having been sent in from Paris, Chad, Gabon and Central African Republic.