/ 17 March 1999

KABILA WANTS A DEBATE

DEMOCRATIC Republic of Congo President Laurent Kabila on Tuesday proposed a debate with his opponents — including rebels fighting his regime — on “the legitimacy of power”. The DRC leader gave no date for any proposed meeting, but suggested that it could take place in Italy if the rebels “feel threatened” in coming to the capital Kinshasa. Kabila said that in a national debate the participants could express themselves “very freely.”