KINSHASA, May 17: Rebel leader Laurent Kabila declared himself head of state today and gave government troops until 11.00 am Kinshasa time (1000 GMT) to surrender.

Kabila said he was assuming power and would form a government of national salvation within 72 hours and call a constituent assembly within 60 days. He announced a suspension of the current Constitution.

Kabila asked civil servants here to remain at their posts. He called for calm and said any act of revenge would be severely punished.

Kabila said he had been talking by telephone from this southern stronghold, to army generals in Kinshasa, who had declared their allegiance. He said the new government would honour its international obligations if they were in the interests of the people. He declared that the rebel leadership had decided that ``Kabila assumes power from this day the functions of Congolese head of state''.

Rebels had taken over the voice of Zaire radio station, near the city center, by mid-day. Five rebel troops, armed with mounted machine guns, stood guard outside the radio station as locals celebrated.

Mobutu's handpicked Prime Minister, Gen Likulia Bolongo, vowed to ``remain in power until the end,'' urging government troops to remain in their camps and then slipped out of the country himself.

He wasn't alone. Reporters watching the ports in Brazzaville, Congo, across the river saw general after general, politician after politician arrive through the night and morning.

Government rank-and-file troops, one of whom had apparently shot dead Zaire's Army chief for being soft on the rebels, were possibly the most serious threat to the remnants of Mobutu's regime.

At rebel headquarters in Lubumbashi, rebel leader Laurent Kabila declared himself ``president'' and said the entire country was in his hands. He said he had no plans for Mobutu and made no mention of elections that the West has pressed him to organise.

He appealed to people to stay off the streets, and troops to stay in their camps, indicating he was acceding to Kabila's demands not to resist. Mobutu's son, Mobutu Kongulu, also a senior army officer fled across the river on Saturday to Brazzaville with his family. Reporters saw him arrive, but the government would not allow them access to him.

One of the top generals who on Thursday advised Mobutu that troops would not defend the capital and that he should leave western military sources said.