Political Rivalry Leads to Skirmish

Supporters of rival opposition leaders brawled briefly in Kinshasa, a sign of rising tensions before President Mobutu Sese Seko’s possible selection of a new prime minister. Mobutu has not said for certain if he will replace Prime Minister Leon Kengo wa Dondo, but his announcement Thursday that a new government should be formed prompted competition among Kengo opponents. Kengo is accused of failing to address the crisis in eastern Zaire, where rebels have taken at least three key cities. About 300 supporters of Etienne Tshisekedi clashed with guards outside the house of his main rival, Frederic Kibassa Maliba. No injuries were reported. Tshisekedi considers himself Zaire’s democratically elected prime minister since his selection at a 1992 conference called by Mobutu under pressure to trade his dictatorship for a democratic system. Mobutu, however, refused to confirm Tshisekedi.