51.   The United States called on Zairean rebel leader Laurent Desire Kabila Wednesday to allow international agencies to begin an airlift operation of starving refugees near Kisangani.

52.   The US decision has been complicated by opposition from both the Zairean rebels and Rwanda to a French involvement.

53.   The Zairean rebel alliance, which seized Kisangani a month ago, on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for their repatriation, which could take two to three months.

54.   The UN Security Council on Friday abruptly dropped plans for a fresh ceasefire appeal to Zairean rebels amid signs that a UN special envoy was progressing in negotiations.

55.   The Zairean rebel alliance, which seized Kisangani a month ago, on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the repatriation, which could take two to three months.

56.   The Zairean rebel chief was due to fly to the ship by helicopter from Angola along with South African Deputy President Thabo Mbeki.

57.   The United Nations on Monday accused Zairean rebels of treating Rwandan refugees worse than animals while preventing UN staff from organizing an orderly repatriation.

58.   The United States put Zairean rebel leader Laurent Kabila on notice Wednesday that his credibility was at stake over reports of atrocities committed in the territory he now controls.

59.   These armed men, who clashed with the Zairean rebels, long kept refugees under their sway, using them as hostages and a source of food.

60.   Top Zairean government officials on Thursday distanced themselves from an initiative by South African President Nelson Mandela to arrange peace talks between them and Zairean rebels.