Army Arrests All Congo Leaders

Press, Volume C, Issue 29500, 29 April 1961, Page 11

Army Arrests All Congo Leaders

(N .Z P.X .-Reuter— Copyriph t) (Rec. 11 p.m.) ELISABETHVILLE, April 28. The Congolese Army at Coquilhatville has taken over, the town and placed all political leaders, including President Kasavubu, under house arrest, usually reliable sources said today.

Other politicians also reported under arrest included members of the Leopoldville Government and President Tshombe of Katanga.

The town, where a meeting of Congo leaders was being held to deal with the Congo’s problems, is completely cut off from the outside world, the sources said The troops are said to want the conference to continue. They plan to hold the politicians captive until there is agreement.

Yesterday Mr Kasavubu's Government denied that Mr Tshombe was under arrest. He was prevented from leaving “by the spontaneous will

of the local people and the Army."

Their sole desire was that he should remain in Coquilhatville until the conference had reached its decisions. Mr Tshombe said he could not take part in the conference which had been called to sort out the Congo’s political and economic troubles ”1 can never pardon this insult by soldiers of the national Army," Mr Tshombe said.