More than anything else, the rebellion sweeping eastern Zaire has been fueled by economic hardship.

Of those who fled Rwanda during the crisis, about 1.5 million settled in eastern Zaire.

"If you drop this food in eastern Zaire, what's to encourage the people to go back?"

The humanitarian crisis in eastern Zaire was a threat to regional peace and stability.

He said that the fighting in eastern Zaire was undermining the Government's control of its territory.

By the middle of 1996, the situation in eastern Zaire was simmering with tension.

But the fighting itself is not the only threat to life in eastern Zaire, aid officials say.

Like most, he is waiting to see what the rebel alliance that now controls eastern Zaire can do for him.

Mr President, the crisis in eastern Zaire is far from over.

The vote was defended as a necessary measure to bring the rebels who control eastern Zaire to the negotiating table.