Guerrilas Zaire

The military offensive of Zaire's new de facto president, Laurent Kabila, is over, but the political war has just begun. As the rebel leader prepared to present his new government to the world today, members of the country's political opposition expressed concern that they would be excluded from key positions. Radical politicians say it is they who deserve much of the credit for the political demise of former President Mobutu Sese Seko, and they are eager to be rewarded for their efforts.

The military offensive of Zaire's new de facto president, Laurent Kabila, is over, but the political war has just begun. As the rebel leader prepared to present his new government to the world today, members of the country's political opposition expressed concern that they would be excluded from key positions. Radical politicians say it is they who deserve much of the credit for the political demise of former President Mobutu Sese Seko, and they are eager to be rewarded for their efforts.

The first civilian authorities to reach this conquered capital from Laurent Kabila's victorious rebel force said Monday that an interim government will be announced today but that national elections will not be held until the country's population is "reeducated." Despite mounting international pressure on the rebels to move swiftly to a democratic transition, Kabila's chief deputy, Deogratias Bugera, refused to give a date for the first free polls in decades. "Be patient," he said.

The first civilian authorities to reach this conquered capital from Laurent Kabila's victorious rebel force said Monday that an interim government will be announced today but that national elections will not be held until the country's population is "reeducated." Despite mounting international pressure on the rebels to move swiftly to a democratic transition, Kabila's chief deputy, Deogratias Bugera, refused to give a date for the first free polls in decades. "Be patient," he said.