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- <text id=89TT3371>
- <title>
- Dec. 25, 1989: World Notes:Comoro Islands
- </title>
- <history>
- TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1989
- Dec. 25, 1989 Cruise Control:Tom Cruise
- </history>
- <article>
- <source>Time Magazine</source>
- <hdr>
- WORLD, Page 29
- World Notes
- COMORO ISLANDS
- Bye-Bye, Bobby
- </hdr><body>
- <p> By mercenary standards, Robert Denard's was an illustrious
- career. The French soldier of fortune waged war throughout
- three decades in such places as the old Congo, Angola and Benin
- and had a hand in the overthrow of three governments in the
- Comoro Islands. But Denard may have finally pushed fortune too
- far. Involved in the assassination of Comoro President Ahmed
- Abdallah, Denard and his mercenary minions were running the
- country until late last week, when French troops called in by
- the Comoro interim President hastened his departure.
- </p>
- <p> Denard was flown to South Africa, but Pretoria made it
- clear that he could not stay. Not only are officials there
- embarrassed by Denard's latest alleged caper, but also rumors
- persist that the $3 million South Africa spent annually until
- recently on the Comoros' presidential guard has served largely
- to line the mercenaries' pockets. Denard expects an even cooler
- reception in France. There he faces charges stemming from a
- failed 1977 coup attempt against Benin President Mathieu
- Kerekou.
- </p>
- <p> Denard's departure does not necessarily spell relief for
- the embattled Comoros. With the mercenaries gone, angry citizens
- may be looking to settle old scores with collaborators.
- </p>
-
- </body></article>
- </text>
-
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