Order returns to Kinshasa with a touch of vengeance

Thousands of soldiers, unpaid by the previous regime and eager for change, readily complied, tying white cloths around their heads to show support for Kabila and marching into military camps past taunting crowds venting their anger at years of abuse.

“Today we finally feel free,” said William Mazaza, a former army captain who was happy to toss his weapon into a huge pile at the Camp Mobutu base.

Like most Zairian soldiers, who under Mobutu were barely paid and poorly equipped, Mazaza said he did not resist when rebel fighters began entering Kinshasa on Saturday morning.

Under Kabila’s leadership, Mazaza said he expected to earn a living wage, wear a decent uniform, and be what he called “a real soldier.”

While most surrendering troops were being processed in an orderly fashion, there were some displays of vengeance.

At Camp Mobutu, rebels took one man away for interrogation, beat him bloody, then led him away from the crowds and shot him through the back as journalists watched.

A second man was similarly executed near the same spot later, witnesses said.The death toll from Saturday’s rebel takeover was not known. Red Cross workers who drove through the city picking up corpses said they were still counting bodies as of last night.

But they said it was likely to be at least 150 based on the number of corpses seen lying in the streets and piled into Red Cross trucks.

In the La Cite district, residents danced around the charred remains of seven soldiers killed by the rebels. Witnesses said two of the soldiers were still alive when they were set afire.

More charred corpses lay along the road leading to the international airport, but it was unknown if they were killed while resisting advancing rebels or murdered in revenge attacks.

Throughout Kinshasa, Zairians wearing white headbands cheered wildly as truckloads of heavily armed uniformed rebels drove past.