(29 Apr 1997) English/Nat
U-S marines have staged a mock evacuation in the Congo in preparation for any possible airlifts of foreign nationals from neighbouring Zaire.
The 27th Mobile Evacuation Unit carried out the exercise at Brazzaville airport.
As Zairian rebels claimed on Tuesday that their front-line units had entered the Zairian provincial town of Kikwit, U-S Marines staged a mock evacuation over the border in the Congo.
The 27th Mobile Evacuation Unit, or M-E-U, undertook the exercise involving helicopters with some of the marines role-playing evacuees.
The proceedings were watched by the U-S Ambassador to the Congo, Aubrey Hooks.
These soldiers are no strangers to this kind of exercise.
This same unit was involved in the recent evacuations of American citizens in Albania. The 27th M-E-U has been on a six month tour which is now drawing to a close.
The exercise was declared a success by Ambassador Hooks.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I think what we see here are preparations for the possibility of an evacuation. Evacuation is not at all assured. Hopefully it will not be necessary at all as a matter of fact and that all we see here will ultimately not be necessary to put into practice."
SUPER CAPTION: Aubrey Hooks, U-S Ambassador, Congo
This will be the last mock evacuation staged by the 27th M-E-U before they go back to the U-S. They will be replaced by another unit still in America.
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