The Zairian president, who had declared a nationwide state of emergency Tuesday in response to rebel advances, named an army general as the new prime minister. Gen. Likulia Bolongo had previously served Mobutu as defense minister and army chief of staff.
Likulia promised a crackdown on civil liberties, saying his primary goal was "the restoration of public order."
The four-star general, dressed in his army uniform and surrounded by four other officers, did not elaborate on the crackdown at a news conference, but said measures would be taken against the news media if they published articles that "affected the morale of the military."
Several foreign journalists, including an Associated Press photographer and APTV cameraman, were beaten and had their cameras stolen by soldiers during an anti-government demonstration yesterday.
And in southeastern Zaire, rebels bent on ending Mobutu's nearly 32-year dictatorship reportedly captured Lubumbashi, Zaire's second-largest city. They have already captured the eastern third of Zaire in their seven-month campaign.
However, the cases appear to have peaked between late February and early March, one month before the U.S. outbreak affected 160 students and teachers in Michigan, according to the report carried by Notimex.
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