KINSHASA, May 23: The self-declared President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Kabila, early today named several key members of his transition government, but the cabinet will not include prominent opposition politician Etienne Thisekedi.

Kabila had reserved the top ministries of Defence, Interior, Finance and Mining for members of his Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (AFDL), whose forces late last week seized the capital kinshasa, effectively ousting long-time dictator Mobutu Sese Seko.

Announcing an incomplete transitional government for the newly-christened Democratic Republic of Congo late last night after five hours of closed-door talks with aides, Kabila abolished the post of prime minister, creating a presidential regime. In the process, he excluded the man who symbolised resistance to ousted President Mobutu Sese Seko.

``There will be no prime minister. It is a presidential regime,'' Gaetan Kakudji of Kabila's Alliance of Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (ADFL) told a Kinshasa news conference today.

Kabila crowned his seven-month rebellion on May 17 when his force entered Kinshasa and he proclaimed himself president.

Mobutu, ailing with cancer, fled into exile after 32 years in power. Kabila immediately baptised the mineral-rich country the Democratic Republic of Congo, its name at independence from Belgium in 1960.As soon as he took charge of Africa's third biggest country, Kabila was under intense domestic pressure and some western encouragement to appoint Tshisekedi to a key post such as the prime ministership.

He brushed aside those calls despite warnings that Tshisekedi remains a hugely popular political figure in the capital of five million.

Kakudji, deputy secretary-general of the Alliance, replied firmly when pressed by reporters about Tshiseke di's exclusion.

``You must not have a fixed idea. This country has many sons who are sufficiently capable of assuming political responsibilities.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.