PEOPLE LEAVING AIRCRAFT; SPEAKING TO REPORTERS; BEING MET.




Initials AA/V-S/MGT/OS



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Background: MORE REFUGEES FROM THE EASTERN CONGO ARRIVED IN BRUSSELS TONIGHT (FRIDAY). TWO PLANES, ONE AIR CONGO AND ONE SABENA, BROUGHT THE REFUGEES FROM KINSHASA. THEY WERE THE FIRST TO FLY OUT OF THE CONGO SINCE THE FIGHTING LAST WEEK BETWEEN FOREIGN MERCENARIES AND CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT FORCES.

THE REFUGEES TOLD SIMILAR STORIES TO THOSE WHO HAD FLOWN TO BELGIUM FROM BURUNDI ON THE PREVIOUS DAY. THEY ALLEGED THAT AT LEAST 11 EUROPEANS HAD BEEN KILLED IN THE FIGHTING.

CONGOLESE PRESIDENT JOSEPH MOBUTU HAS APPEALED TO THE MERCENARIES TO SURRENDER OR TO GIVE UP THEIR HOSTAGES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO PRECISE FIGURES GIVEN ON THE NUMBER OF FOREIGNERS HELD HOSTAGE, BUT CONGOLESE OFFICIAL SOURCES SAY THEY INCLUDE UNIVERSITY STAFF, MEDICAL STAFF, TOURISTS AND STUDENTS. ABOUT 20 AMERICANS ARE BELIEVED TO BE AMONG THEM.

LATEST REPORTERS SAY THE MERCENARIES, BELIEVED TO NUMBER NEARLY 200, HAVE WITHDRAWN FROM POINTS AROUND THE AIRPORT AND GENERAL HOSPITAL OF KISANGANI (FORMERLY STANLEYVILLE).