Chechen rebel authorities, including president Aslan Maskhadov, denied ever having been involved in any such swap.

More than 500 Zairian soldiers came out of hiding in the thick rain forest around the city today and turned themselves in to the rebel authorities.

Sir John removed to Canada during the American Revolutionary War with family and allies, as he was at risk of arrest by rebel authorities.

The rebels' lack of a central command made it difficult for Mr. Holbrooke to be sure his message had reached the top rebel authorities.

The airlift ran into trouble last week when cholera broke out in the camp two weeks ago and local rebel authorities said it could spread to Kisangani.

Reprisals have been a source of embarrassment for the Transitional National Council, the de facto rebel authority, which has relied on Western support to survive.

They have put up a stop sign in one residential street, citing rebel authority, and they have scouts dressed in black, carrying walkie-talkies, on the lookout.

By tonight, the rebel authorities had transported about 1,500 people from the squalid camp near here to Kisangani.

The rebel authorities have not allowed aid workers to bring in plastic sheeting, so most people lack even rudimentary shelter.

Had it been the latter there would doubtless be evidence of a pattern of similar behaviour in other areas liberated by the rebel authorities.