Zimbabwe defence minister confirms Kabila's death
REUTERS

HARARE, JAN 17: Zimbabwe Defence Minister Moven Mahachi told state news agency Ziana on Wednesday that Congo President Laurent Kabila was dead.

The news agency said Kabila died early on Wednesday on a plane carrying him for medical treatment in Zimbabwe, which was the Congo's major ally during nearly four years of civil war.

The news agency said Kabila was shot five times by an aide, who was subsequently killed by other aides in the room.

``President Kabila has died. It was a pure assassination,'' Mahachi told Ziana.

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