ZAIRE: KINSHASA: PRESIDENT MOBUTU MAY HAVE ARRIVED BY PLANE UPDATE

(21 Mar 1997) Natural Sound

A plane believed to be carrying home Zaire's cancer-stricken president landed in Kinshasa on Friday.

Reporters were chased from the airport before they could find out if Mobutu Sese Seko would emerge.

Soldiers forced reporters to leave the airport after an aide boarded the plane, then returned to confer with officials.

The plane believed to be carrying Zairian President Mobutu Sese Seko touched down at Kinshasa airport Friday.

But reporters weren't allowed to find out whether or not Mobutu was on board the plane.

A guard of honour that had lined up along a red carpet to greet Mobutu drifted away, as did relatives and officials who had formed a welcome party.

Weakened by prostate cancer, the 66-year-old Mobutu had boarded a plane in Nice, southern France, to return home.

It was hoped that his presence would help end fighting and restore confidence in his divided government.

Reporters attempted to question Prime Minister Leon Kengo wa Dondo as to Mobutu's whereabouts and health but without response.

The events at Kinshasa's airport added to the mystery surrounding Mobutu's health - and ability to run his country.

Until Friday morning in Nice, the Zairian leader had not been seen in public since he entered a Monaco hospital nearly a week ago.

He was reported to have had internal bleeding linked to complications from surgery for prostate cancer last August.

Mobutu had arrived at the airport in Nice in a black limousine, accompanied by five other cars and a police escort.

Before boarding the plane with his wife, he turned and waved to journalists.

Only a few dozen family members and dignitaries gathered in Kinshasa to greet Mobutu.

The welcoming party was in sharp contrast to the thousands of supporters, singers and drummers who were mustered by the government for his last visit in February.

It also contrasted to a jubilant welcome Friday in the eastern Zaire town of Kisangani for rebel leader Laurent Kabila. Kabila's forces took Kisangani over the weekend.

Mobutu has repeated calls for a cease-fire with rebels and again promised elections.

The rebels have said they will stop fighting only after Mobutu holds direct talks with Kabila. Mobutu has so far refused to meet with Kabila.

Mobutu has been in power nearly 32 years, a dictatorship that has made him one of the world's richest men while his country became one of the world's poorest.

His past promises of a transition to multi-party democracy have gone unfulfilled.

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