Zaire parties agree talks

President Mobutu Sese Seko and the Zairean rebel leader Laurent Kabila have agreed in principle to meet to discuss elections, United Nations envoy Mohamed Sahnoun said. Mr Sahnoun and South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad said President Nelson Mandela had invited Mr Mobutu to meet Mr Kabila in South Africa "as early as possible". President Mandela met Mr Kabila last week in an attempt to persuade Mr Kabila to drop his insistence on Mr Mobutu's resignation, a source said.

Reuters - Cape Town