Mobutu stands by conference pledge

KINSHASA (Reuter) - President Mobutu Sese Seko, heading off a fresh political crisis, made it clear yesterday that Zaire's national conference would continue despite a row over renaming the country. A cabinet statement on Wednesday night said the government was turning its back on the conference after it voted to change Zaire's name back to Congo, raising fears that the hardline military President would halt the year-old democracy forum.

But after a flurry of talks, Archbishop Monsengwo Pasinya, the conference chairman, yesterday read delegates a statement approved by Mr Mobutu saying the conference would go ahead. 'The President stands by the commitments made . . . concerning the continuation of work. The conference must go on,' the Archbishop said, to rousing cheers. Live television coverage of debates resumed after being blacked out on Wednesday. The statement denied Mr Mobutu was responsible for censoring the coverage.