Reuters Africa Highlights / [Dec 4]

[Reuters]

GOMA, Zaire - Hundreds of Zairean government troops went on
a rampage of looting and raping in the northeastern city of
Kisangani as victorious rebels said they were advancing toward
the city from the south and east.
NAIROBI - Zairean rebels have either killed or captured and
sent back to Rwanda most commanders in the 45,000-strong Hutu
army of the previous Rwandan government, a Hutu politician said.
Seth Sendashonga, a former minister in Rwanda's Tutsi-led
government now in exile in Kenya, said the rebels also killed
many senior Hutu politicians who served in Rwanda's last
government before Rwandan Tutsi rebels seized Kigali in 1994.
KAMPALA - The editor of a Ugandan newspaper that quoted
Zairean sources as saying Rwandan and Ugandan troops and rebels
were killing thousands of refugees in eastern Zaire was
arrested, staff said. Peter Mungherera, deputy editor of the
Uganda Express weekly, said editor Peter Busiku was charged with
publishing false and alarming reports.
KINSHASA - As rebel advances in eastern Zaire prompt
speculation about the breakup of the vast country, there is
strong evidence many regions have already gone their own way.
``It is no secret that Zaire only really exists on the map,
which is not necessarily a bad thing. What we have to hope for
is that the latest crisis doesn't spread and result in the
destruction of all the constituent parts,'' said one Western
diplomat.
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OUAGADOUGOU - Heads of state gathered for a Franco-African
summit that was to focus on good governance in Africa but was
overshadowed by conflict on the continent. Foreign ministers
laboured for more than six hours in the Burkina Faso capital to
prepare resolutions on the main theme: good governance and
development. But turmoil in Central Africa looked certain to
dominate.
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JOHANNESBURG - South Africa's highest court authorised
President Nelson Mandela to sign into law a post-apartheid
constitution that enforces racial and social equality.
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PRETORIA - South African President Nelson Mandela said he
would stick by his ``agonizing'' decision last week to end
diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but promised to maintain ties
in all but name.