/ 16 March 1999

DRC SOLDIERS FLEE TO ZAMBIA

AT least 800 armed Democratic Republic of Congolo soldiers fleeing a rebel offensive have streamed into Zambia over the past few days, the Times of Zambia reported on Monday. The paper reported that nearly 10000 civilians including some French settlers had also crossed into Zambia. The soldiers entered Zambia through the northern town of Kaputa, surrendered to authorities and and gave up their weapons, the Times said, quoting a local official in Kaputa district, about 1000km north of the Zambian capital. The official, Evaristo Kafwembela, told the paper that other DRC government soldiers had crossed into Zambia through other points in the region and are still waiting to be cleared.