Comoros foreign minister in Kinshasa to discuss coup bid

KINSHASA (AFP) - The foreign minister of the Comoros met Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila Friday to discuss the alleged involvement of Congolese nationals in the Indian Ocean state's latest coup attempt.

An official at the presidency simply said Mohamed Bacri had come to reinforce bilateral relations but a source close to Kabila had said a failed April 20 attempt to topple the Comoran government topped the agenda.

Fifteen people have been arrested in the Comoros on suspicion of attempting to "overthrow the democratically-elected authorities" of the tiny coup-prone archipelago.

The source close to the presidency in Kinshasa told AFP on condition of anonymity that Bacri wanted to discuss "the alleged involvement of six Congolese nationals in the coup attempt".

"His visit should make it possible to identify these individuals," he added.

Bacri remained mum on the issue after his meeting with Kabila.

Sources close to the investigation into the alleged coup against President Ikililou Dhoinine had said that a colonel by the name of Kombe Am-Joris was among seven foreigners in the group of 15 suspected plotters.

Among the Comorans in the group -- and described as the leader -- is Mahamoud Ahmed Abdallah, the son of former president Ahmed Abdallah who was killed in a 1989 coup.

A ruling party official, Mohamed Halifa, had also said that the group of 15 included foreign mercenaries, including one individual with ties to the late Bob Denard, France's most notorious soldier of fortune.

Denard organised the coup that toppled Mahamoud Ahmed Abdallah's father only months after he became the tiny nation's first president in 1975.

He also masterminded the coup that brought him back to power in 1978 as well as the one that eventually killed him in 1989. It is thought Denard may have shot Abdallah himself although that could never be proven.