ZAIREAN rebels seized the country's second largest city, Lubumbashi, yesterday as President Mobutu Sese Seko sought to regain control of the political chaos in Kinshasa by naming a military chief as prime minister.
Rebel radio in the eastern city of Goma said Lubumbashi, capital of the mineral rich Shaba provlince in south eastern Zaire, fell to, the forces of Mr Laurent Kabila at 2 p.m., despite the apparent resistance of the DSP (Presidential Security Division) backed by Belgian mercenaries.
There was no immediate reaction to the report in Kinshasa, where President Mobutu fought to reassert his waning authority by dumping his prime minister designate, Mr Etienne Tshisekedi, replacing him with former defence minister Gen Likulia Bolongo.
An aide to Mr Tshisekedi, whom President Mobutu appointed only last week, described the move, which came the day after the President imposed a state of emergency in an apparent attempt to stifle a planned pro Tshisekedi march, as "suicidal".
Mr Tshisekedi, a long time opposition leader who is immensely popular in Kinshasa, was arrested as he tried to enter the premier's office to begin running his new government yesterday.
A crowd of around 10,000 supporters who had rallied outside his house to accompany him to his offices was charged by soldiers using teargas.
Mr Tshisekedi was later released and escorted to his home by President Mobutu's son, Mr Kongolo Mobutu, according to a Likulia aide.
Meanwhile, Mr Kabila, in a statement issued from his Goma HQ, last night gave President Mobutu "three days" to contact him "with a view to negotiating his departure" from power after 32 years.