1.
SV PAN... ROAD BLOCK.
0.06

2.
SV SOLDIERS ON ARMOURED CAR.
0.15

3.
TRAVELLING SHOT... TROOPS.
0.22

4.
LV TROOPS IN FIRING POSITION.
0.24

5.
SV TROOPS ON A MOVING ARMOURED CAR.
0.27

6.
CU TROOPS ON ARMOURED CAR.
0.31

7.
LV TRAFFIC MOVES ALONG ROAD.
0.37

8.
SV TROOPS.
0.38

9.
LV TROOPS ON A MOVING ARMOURED CAR.
0.44



Initials DD/S/WH/LW


NOTE PROD 8949/61 REFERS.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: WHILE THE UNITED NATIONS FORCES IN THE CONGO LAUNCHED AN AIR OFFENSIVE ON DECEMBER 6TH AGAINST THE KATANGA AIR BASE AT KOLWEZI, USING ROCKETS AND CANNONS, FILM TAKEN DECEMBER 5TH SHOWS THE ROAD BLOCKS PRESIDENT TSHOMBE'S NEW SET UP ON THE HIGHWAY OUT TO THE AIRPORT AT ELISABETHVILLE AND REFUSED TO CLEAR WHEN CALLED UPON TO DO SO BY U.N. AUTHORITIES.

THE U.N. PLANES - INDIAN CANBERRAS AND SWEDISH SAAB JETS - DESTROYED FOUR KATANGA AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND - INCLUDING A JET FIGHTER, SAID A U.N. REPORT FROM LEOPOLDVILLE, THE SEAT OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT. FUEL DUMPS, TROOP TRAINS AND A RAILWAY BRIDGE WERE ALSO ATTACKED IN THIS LATEST CLASH BETWEEN KATANGA AND U.N. FORCES - TOUCHED OFF BY DISPUTES OVER CONTROL OF COMMUNICATIONS. UNITED NATIONS AUTHORITIES CLAIMED THAT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BETWEEN ELISABETHVILLE AND THE OUTSIDE WORLD WAS VITAL. THEY SAID THAT FIGHTING BEGAN SOME OF THEIR TROOPS DRIVING OUT TO THE AIRPORT WERE FIRED ON FROM ROAD BLOCK. OTHERS WERE AMBUSHED FROM THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

DENIALS WHAT THEY FIRED THE FIRST SHOT CAME FROM KATANGESE LEADERS WHO SAY THEY HAVE SUSPECTED THE U.N. OF PREPARING FOR BATTLE EVER SINCE THE SECURITY COUNCIL GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO USE FORCE - IN SELF DEFENCE.

WHILE REPORTS OF THE U.N. AIR SUCCESSES CAME FROM LEOPOLDVILLE, HEAVY FIGHTING CONTINUED IN ELISABETHVILLE. A U.N. SPOKESMAN SAID THE KATANGESE WERE RE-GROUPING THEIR TROOPS AT THE OLD AIRFIELD. "WE ARE BLASTING THEM WITH MORTARS," HE SAID A KATANGA OFFICER WAS QUOTED AS SAYING THE U.N. POSITION WAS ONE OF "TOTAL CONFUSION AND FLIGHT."