ZAIRE yesterday dismissed as propaganda allegations by rebels that Chinese soldiers had arrived in the capital. Kinshasa, to help repulse a feared attack by rebels trying to topple President Mobutti Sese Seko. "There is no Chinese soldier in Zaire to help the FAZ [Zaire army]. It is not true," said Mr Leon Kalima, spokesman for emergency rule Prime Minister Likulia Bolongo.
China has dismissed the report as "groundless".
Rebel "finance minister", Mawana Nanga Mawampanga, said in the southern city of Lubumbashi that Chinese troops were in Kinshasa. "We know of 400 troops at present," he added, reading a statement from rebel leader, Laurent Kabila.
A senior Chinese army general met Mobutu at his jungle palace in Gbadolite, northern Zaire, in January after rebels took up arms in the east in October. The purpose of the visit was not explained officially and led to speculation that China could help Zaire to crush the rebellion.