Bodies Litter Streets In Brazzaville, But Peace Talks May Be Near

Bodies littered the streets of Brazzaville and French paratroopers poured out of the sky Monday to help evacuate foreigners caught in fighting between government troops and a private militia. France says it negotiated peace talks.

Mortar fire thundered through the capital of the Republic of Congo during a fifth day of fighting between government troops and militiamen loyal to former military leader Gen. Denis Sassou-Nguesso.

As night fell and tracer bullets and rocket-propelled grenades lit up the sky, the 5,000-strong militia appeared to have secured its grip on the northern and central sections of the city, while government troops held southern neighborhoods.

In Paris, a spokeswoman for French President Jacques Chirac said Sassou-Nguesso and President Pascal Lissouba had agreed to talk.

French officials later said that details of the cease-fire remained to be worked out.