(16 Jun 1997) Natural Sound
Fighting has flared up again around the airport in Brazzaville as the French soldiers began their withdraw from the Congolese capital on Monday.
The withdrawal comes as African heads of state have joined delegates from the warring factions in the Congo at a meeting in the Gabonese capital, Libreville.
The meeting, hosted by the Gabon's President Omar Bongo, is an attempt to prepare the groundwork for a summit between Congolese President Pascal Lissouba and his rival Denis Sassou Nguesso.
French military planes have begun to ferry out French troops from the Congolese capital, Brazzaville.
France had sent 12-hundred troops to this Central African state to help with the evacuation of around 5-thousand-500 foreigners.
Now that their task is over, Paris has ordered its troops to withdraw.
Around 200 troops left on Monday.
The French are leaving behind a highly volatile situation.
On Monday, fighting flared again around the airport. It followed Sunday's exchanges -- the worst since a cease-fire was negotiated last Wednesday.
Congolese President Pascal Lissouba's forces fired shells across the airport at the rival "Cobra" militias, led by the former military leader, Dennis Sassou Nguesso.
They retaliated in kind.
Shortly after Sunday's outburst, President Lissouba appealed to Paris not to withdraw its troops - fearing their withdrawal could lead to an all-out fight for control of the airport or even the overthrow of his government.
Paris refused his request.
The pull-out has intensified efforts to negotiate a peaceful conclusion to the conflict.
Delegates from the opposing sides are due to meet in Libreville Monday to prepare the groundwork for a summit between Congolese President Lissouba and his rival, Sassou Nguesso.
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