ON DECEMBER 27 OUR CAMERAMAN IN ELISABETHVILLE REPORTED HIS SUCCESSFUL CROSSING OF SEVERAL UNITED NATIONS BARRICADES - FILMING OF WHICH WAS PROHIBITED BY THE UN - TO REACH 'LA LUANO' AIRPORT WHERE REFUGEES, AND SICK AND WOUNDED, WERE FLOWN OUT FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN UN TROOPS AND THE KATANGESE ARMY.

A SABENA AIRCRAFT, THE FIRST COMMERCIAL PLANE TO LAND THERE FOR THREE WEEKS, EMBARKED THE SICK AND WOUNDED FROM AMBULANCES DESPITE POURING RAIN. SPECIAL COACHES BROUGHT THE REFUGEES, WHOSE PASSPORTS WERE CAREFULLY CHECKED BY UN PERSONNEL BEFORE THEY BOARDED THE AIRCRAFT.

THE CAMERAMAN SAID HIS COLLEAGUE WAS ARRESTED LATER AFTER FILMING SOME UN SOLDIERS AT THE AIRPORT.

ON THE SAME DAY, THE AIRLIFT OF KATANGA REFUGEES FROM SALISBURY TO BRUSSELS WAS CONTINUED. ABOUT 680 PEOPLE WERE FLOWN FROM SALISBURY BETWEEN DECEMBER 25-27 BY SABENA. IF UNOFFICIAL ESTIMATES ARE CORRECT A TOTAL OF 6,000 WHITES WILL BE EVACUATED FROM KATANGA.