Looting Hits Rep. of Congo

KINSHASA, Congo — Angolan troops who helped rebels take control of the Republic of Congo have pillaged the oil city of Pointe-Noire, security sources said Monday.

Security sources said Angolan troops had looted all they could from Pointe-Noire while victorious rebels of Gen. Denis Sassou-Nguesso plundered the capital, Brazzaville.

“Our information is that the Angolans have looted Pointe-Noire to the ground. They have actually created insecurity in the city,” a military source said.

The chaos in Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville, where troops were still looting Monday, had delayed Sassou-Nguesso’s departure from his hometown of Oyo for the capital to take charge as ruler, sources said.

“It is chaos there. They are looting everything. There is surely a problem in keeping the Cobras in check,” said a journalist who had just returned from Brazzaville, referring to Sassou-Nguesso’s Cobra militia.

Meanwhile, ousted President Pascal Lissouba was granted asylum in the West African state of Burkina Faso, where he arrived Saturday, the Burkinabe government said Monday.