31.   Some of those refugees still may be under the control of the extremist Hutu militias who fled last week from advancing Zairian rebels.

32.   The increasingly unpopular government imposed a curfew on Kinshasa on Tuesday and called on civilians to help the army defend the capital against the advancing rebels.

33.   The refugees fled their U.N. camps near Bukavu in October ahead of advancing Zairian rebels.

34.   The president had been holed up in the southern city of Lubumbashi for more than a week while his capital seemed in peril from an advancing rebel army.

35.   This was the latest among several reports of mercenaries sent to Zaire to help in an army counteroffensive against advancing rebels, announced on Monday.

36.   There have been previous reports of European mercenaries sent to Zaire to help in an army counter-offensive against advancing rebels, announced on Monday.

37.   Twenty Zairian soldiers, including two lieutenant colonels and five senior officers, face the death penalty after being convicted of desertion for fleeing advancing rebels.

38.   Zairian troops have left a wake of destruction in their path as they have retreated ahead of the advancing rebels.

39.   Zambia has tightened security along its northern border to keep out weapons carried by Zairian soldiers who are fleeing advancing rebels.

40.   Zambia, meanwhile, has tightened security along its northern border to keep out weapons carried by Zairian soldiers who are fleeing advancing rebels.