Brazzaville - The new military ruler of the Congo Republic moved to seal his hold on the country yesterday, detaining more than a dozen foreigners on suspicion of aiding his wartime enemy.
Police at Pointe Noite, Congo's oil capital, yesterday presented 16 foreign nationalists accused of serving as mercenaries for ousted president Mr Pascal Lissouba to foreign journalists.
The press was permitted to question the 11 Russian, three French and two Belgian detainees freely in the presence of police officers.
As aid arrived in the capital, Brazzaville, fighters from Gen Denis Sassou-Nguesso's Cobra militia set up blockades on major routes and began searching vehicles for arms and ammunition. The move was a response to concerns of widespread looting and general lawlessness six days after the Cobras took control of the capital from President Pascal Lissouba.
Underscoring the insecurity, a French trooper guarding the French embassy was shot twice in the legs by an unknown assailant overnight. Gen Sassou-Nguesso himself has yet to appear in Brazzaville, partly because of security concerns.