Patrice Lumumba, the Congolese Prime Minister, held a press conference in Tunis, Aug 4, before leaving in a Russian airliner for Morocco.

Speaking to the press, Mr Lumumba said he would take "radical" new measures if all Belgian troops had not left the Congo by the time he returned to Leopoldville on Aug 8. He also declared the majority of the population of the breakaway Katanga province condemned the attitude of the "traitor" Premier, Moise Tshombe.

A joint statement issued in Tunis said Mr Lumumba and President Bourguiba of Tunisia had agreed "to study the practical means of a meeting between the leaders of African States." The aim of such a meeting would be to create favourable conditions for effective cooperation between African states. The two statesmen had also agreed to redouble and coordinate their efforts to help dependent African peoples to "recover their freedom and dignity, and attain their right to national independence." They pledged attachment to the aims and principles of the United Nations and to a non-alignment policy.