41.   Kabila who has so far refused to talk to the ailing leader made the proposal in a telephone interview with Belgian state television RTBF.

42.   Meanwhile, government officials in Zaire were urging people onto the streets of Kinshasa to welcome the ailing leader home.

43.   Newsweek reported that only immediate family members and bodyguards have been allowed to see the ailing leader.

44.   The ailing leader of the Roman Catholic Church arrived in Bulgaria, his first bridge-building visit to the Balkans nation, late Thursday.

45.   The ailing veteran leader was last seen in public three years ago.

46.   The ailing Zairean leader was in France Tuesday following medical tests, and was not expected back in Zaire until next week.

47.   The leaders are reluctant to exacerbate the power struggle in this transitional period as they jostle for position in anticipation of the death of ailing paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.