CONGO INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS

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(3 Jul 1999) English/Nat • • Last minute consultations delayed the signing of a peace accord on Saturday to end the civil war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but officials said representatives are close to clinching the deal. • • Hopes of resolving the war rose this week as both sides offered concessions at the peace talks in neighbouring Zambia. • • The news of a possible breakthrough comes just days after the Democratic Republic of Congo celebrated 39th year of independence. • • June 30 marks the Democratic Republic of Congo's Independence day. • • On this day, 39 years ago, the country broke away from Belgium. • • This year's celebrations come amid hopes that concessions by the warring sides in the civil war could lead to a ceasefire ending the 11-month conflict. • • In the capital, Kinshasa, thousands took to the streets in parades held to celebrate the day - and call for peace. • • Marchers bore placards with words of encouragement for the peace negotiators. • • SOUNDBITE: (English) • This is the opportunity to express that the people want the aggression to get out of the country once and for all. • SUPER CAPTION: Mwenze Kongolo, Democratic Republic of Congo Justice Minister • • Speaking at the official Independence day ceremony, Interior Minister Kakudji rallied support for government forces. • • He called for the aggressors in the conflict to be thrown out of the country. • • After meeting for six hours on Friday, Congolese officials and representatives of three main rebel groups agreed on key elements, including the formation of a unified army and the establishment of a dialogue on the country's political future. • • They also agreed on a formula that would allow rebel fighters to keep territory under their control in the • eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo pending further talks. • • At the moment, the rebels control a third of the country. • • But as the talks continued, so did the fighting. • • The United Nations refugee agency says humanitarian groups are struggling to assist thousands of people fleeing fresh clashes in Congo's southern Kivu province. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

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