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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Swiss will return Mobutu millions | Swiss will return Mobutu millions |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Swiss authorities say they are ready to return millions of dollars frozen in accounts held by Mobutu Sese Seko, the former Congolese leader. | Swiss authorities say they are ready to return millions of dollars frozen in accounts held by Mobutu Sese Seko, the former Congolese leader. |
| Swiss Confederation President Micheline Calmy-Rey said her government is holding $6.6m in Mr Mobutu's accounts. | Swiss Confederation President Micheline Calmy-Rey said her government is holding $6.6m in Mr Mobutu's accounts. |
| Ms Rey has had talks in the capital, Kinshasa, with President Joseph Kabila. | Ms Rey has had talks in the capital, Kinshasa, with President Joseph Kabila. |
| Swiss authorities froze bank accounts in 1997 belonging to President Mobutu soon after he was ousted by rebels led by Mr Kabila's father, Laurent. | Swiss authorities froze bank accounts in 1997 belonging to President Mobutu soon after he was ousted by rebels led by Mr Kabila's father, Laurent. |
| "We discussed the question of Mobutu's funds and my government is prepared to restore the money to the DR Congo as soon as possible," Ms Rey told reporters in Kinshasa. | "We discussed the question of Mobutu's funds and my government is prepared to restore the money to the DR Congo as soon as possible," Ms Rey told reporters in Kinshasa. |
| The BBC's Lubunga By'aombe in Kinshasa says the newly elected government's interest has waned after establishing it was less than the amount they had hoped for. | The BBC's Lubunga By'aombe in Kinshasa says the newly elected government's interest has waned after establishing it was less than the amount they had hoped for. |
| Initial reports had indicated that the late dictator had stashed billions of dollars embezzled from the government treasury in Swiss accounts. | Initial reports had indicated that the late dictator had stashed billions of dollars embezzled from the government treasury in Swiss accounts. |
| In 2001, items auctioned from his luxurious villa in Switzerland netted $100,000. | In 2001, items auctioned from his luxurious villa in Switzerland netted $100,000. |
| The late Congolese leader's son, Nzanga Mobutu, is the agriculture minister in President Kabila's government. | The late Congolese leader's son, Nzanga Mobutu, is the agriculture minister in President Kabila's government. |
| In the past, Switzerland has come under criticism for its role as a money-laundering centre, prompting the government to impose stiffer banking rules. | |
| Two years ago, the Swiss returned some $500m to Nigeria that had been held in accounts owned by the later military leader, General Sani Abacha. |