Congo loyalists defeat exiles in coup attempt.

Byline: ED JAMES 

GOVERNMENT forces battled attackers at military installations and a TV station in Congo's capital yesterday to defeat a coup attempt against President Joseph Kabila.

Fighters loyal to the late Congo dictator,Mobutu Sese Seko, were among those behind the attempt, British Ambassador Jim Atkinson said.

The attempt woke Congo's capital,Kinshasa,before dawn,leading to four hours of gunfire in the congested city. By late morning, shooting had eased, with attackers apparently contained by loyalist troops.

Congo government spokesman Vital Kamerhe said the gunmen attacked simultaneously at several military posts and a private television station,killing one loyalist soldier and injuring two others.

``We have the situation under control,''Kamerhe said.

``There have been arrests in the assailants' ranks and we've taken some arms and ammunition.''

Diplomats believed the attempt was at least in part the work of soldiers loyal to Mobutu, Congo's Cold War ruler.

Thousands of Mobutu's soldiers fled across the Congo River to Brazzaville,capital of neighbouring Republic of Congo,after Mobutu was ousted in 1997.

``They've infiltrated into Kinshasa with weapons, presumably over the past days and weeks,'' the British diplomat said. ``This morning they began attacking at various places.''

Congo, Africa's third-largest country, is emerging from five years of war that killed more than three million people by some aid groups' estimates.

Kabila was in the country yesterday, although his exact whereabouts were not immediately known. Atkinson said,``I have it on good authority that he's safe.''

UN forces had stepped up patrols in the city, spokeswoman Patricia Tome said.

The United Nations has some 10,800 peace keepers in Congo.