71.   Earlier Saturday, sources in Kisangani said that Zairean government forces backed by Rwandan soldiers and mercenaries were regaining the initiative in their battle against the rebels.

72.   Eastern Zaire has been the scene of weeks of fighting between local Tutsi rebels and Zairean government forces.

73.   Earlier, several sources in Kisangani said that Zairean government forces backed by Rwandan soldiers and mercenaries were regaining the initiative in their battle against the rebels.

74.   Expatriate aid workers in Goma were preparing to evacuate Friday, leaving the refugees to their fate amidst fighting between Zairean Tutsi rebels and Zairean government troops.

75.   Fierce fighting is taking place in eastern Zaire between Tutsi Banyamulenge rebels, initially from Rwanda, and Zairean government troops.

76.   Finally the Zairean government welcomed the latest declarations made in New York by UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan on restoring peace in Zaire.

77.   The South African government is currently hosting face-to-face peace talks between representatives of Kabila and the Zairean government at a secret venue near Pretoria.

78.   The rebels have repeatedly charged since Monday that mercenaries are aiding the Zairean government troops, which they maintain are actively preparing a counter-offensive against the rebel forces.

79.   The refugees have fled their camps throughout the Kivy region of eastern Zaire to escape fighting between the guerrillas and Zairean government forces.

80.   The town was seen as a bridge-head for the counter-offensive launched by the Zairean government to retake the land in rebel hands.