Zairian Rebel Army Seizes Railway Hub

In a new sign of the government’s collapsing power, the rebel army has captured an essential railway hub in the eastern part of the country and appears poised to march on Zaire’s second-largest city, which diplomats say could fall within a week.

The rebel forces, led by Laurent Kabila, faced no opposition from Zaire’s demoralized troops as they marched into Kamina last week, cutting off Lubumbashi, capital of the mineral-rich Shaba province, diplomats said Monday.