(12 Oct 1997) Eng/French/Nat
The President of the Republic of Congo, Pascal Lissouba, announced on Saturday his government was in control of Brazzaville's airport and the presidential palace.
Opposition forces had claimed to have captured the two strategic places in their two-day-old offensive.
On Friday, Lissouba himself seemed to indicate that the airport had fallen, but on Saturday the president insisted that he had been misunderstood.
Despite conflicting reports, the presidential palace and Brazzaville airport on Saturday were both in control by forces loyal to President Lissouba of the Republic of Congo.
Only on Friday, the forces of the opposition "Cobra" militia had claimed to have captured the presidential palace in their two-day-old offensive, along with the Brazzaville airport.
But on Saturday, Lissouba's soldiers said they had won repeated battles against Cobra militiamen since Thursday evening.
Lissouba arrived at the presidential palace in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville on Saturday with the echo of gunfire not too far in the distance.
His soldiers and allied militia members obviously feared another Cobra attack, ducking bullets, as the presidential motorcade arrived at the palace.
Walking into the presidential palace, the President of the Republic of Congo, Pascal Lissouba, announced that he had come home.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I am home, you have seen that I am home. I am home, the airport, nothing. Regarding radio and television, all things are in hands of our army. It means that it is always, and as a rule of our people."
SUPER CAPTION: Pascal Lissouba, President of the Republic of Congo
On Friday, Lissouba himself seemed to indicate that that the airport had fallen to the Cobras, but insisted on Saturday that he had been misunderstood.
And he wanted to make sure his visitors understood the Cobras had not succeeded.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We are slaves of our people. We are there to walk and the rule of our people. If our people did not agree what we are doing, he has very simple means to do that by elections."
SUPER CAPTION: Pascal Lissouba, President of the Republic of Congo
He also indicated that his support represented the will of the Congolese people.
SOUNDBITE: (French)
"The forces of the enemy against us? The Congolese people are the Congolese people, they are the force. How can a force impose itself on our people? We are slaves of our people."
SUPER CAPTION: Pascal Lissouba, President of the Republic of Congo
Prime Minister Bernard Kolelas' Ninja militia has rallied behind Republic of Congo President, Pascal Lissouba.
The Ninja militia had been part ethnic and political fighting in the Republic of Congo in 1993, but previously kept out of this latest conflict.
Ninja militia said on Saturday they had helped government forces drive opposition Cobra militia from the airport of the Congolese capital, Brazzaville.
SOUNDBITE (French)
The airport is ours. It is not Cobra's. We are 'ninjas' and we will wait for them here."
SUPER CAPTION: "Ninja" Fighter
Despite being in control of the airport, mortar and artillery rounds could be heard nearby.
The signs of intense fighting at the airport was evident.
The bodies of rival Cobra militiamen lay strewn on the ground, along with abandoned mortar rounds around the airport tarmac and close to the main terminal.
This Lieutenant said, however, that despite skirmishes, his troops had the situation under control.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Cobra's forces are not here. Sometimes we have skirmishes with them. But we have control of the situation."
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