Mobutu troops surround bank

First Edition

Kinshasa (Reuter) - Troops loyal to President Mobutu Sese Seko have deployed around Zaire's central bank with tanks in a new trial of strength between the president and prime minister, eyewitnesses said yesterday.

The soldiers moved in after the reformist Prime Minister, Etienne Tshisekedi, sacked the central bank governor, Nyemba Shabani, late on Thursday. The witnesses said the soldiers were guaranteeing Mr Shabani access to his offices in central Kinshasa.

Zaire is bracing for a further power tussle after the country's parliament, dissolved six weeks ago, said it would meet today to adopt a new constitution.