Bemba Arrests Wamba Ministers

By Felix Osike and Emmy Allio TWENTY-one Congolese rebels, including ministers of Prof. Wamba Dia Wamba's RCD-Kisangani faction, have been arrested by rival faction of Jean Pierre Bemba. The RCD-Kisangani foreign affairs minister, Prof. Claver Pashi, said, "Eighteen cadres were arrested in Bunia by Mr. Ide Kalema, Bemba's security officer on orders of Bemba. The 18 cadres are being detained at Bunia Central Prison." He said others were arrested in Beni. He said the arrests were effected in an attempt to block the group from meeting the UN Observer Mission in Congo and the Joint Military Commission. The meeting had been scheduled for Tuesday this week in Bunia. "We understand the reason for their arrest is that Bemba and Tibasima are trying to keep RCD Kisangani off the ground," said Pashi. Tibasima, Wamba's former comrade who recently claimed to have toppled Wamba, was rejected by Uganda. He is now minerals minister in the Congolese Liberation Front. Ends