ASSASSINATION IN CONGO 'INTERNAL,' TURNER SAYS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP99-00498R000100080014-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: March 21, 1977
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

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0i1 J'A GE
Approved For Release 2007/04/17: CIA-RDP99-00498RO
BALTIMORE SUN WOO
21 MARCH 1_977
Washington (AP)-Adm. Stansfield
Turner, the new director of the Central
Intelligence Agency, said yesterday that
the assassination of Congolese President
Marien Ngouabi "appears to be a typical
internal problem there."
Interviewed on Face the Nation, the
nationally televised CBS program, Admi-
ral Turner amplified his comment by say-
ing he meant that the slaying was "some-
thing handled by some people inside the
Congo." He added ? that "the evidence is
-
very, very tenuous and slim at this point."
The new CIA head said it was possible
that the investigations of the John F. Ken-
nedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., assassi-
nations by the House Select Committee on
Assassinations "will require further intel-
ligence information from our files."
"We will be as co-operative as we can,"
he said.
- Admiral Turner disclosed that he had
begun "a careful review" of all covert and
clandestine activities conducted by Amer-
ican intelligence personnel.
"There is nothing illegal or improper
going on at this time," he said.
The CIA's director also told the inter-
viewers that "no American newsmen of
any kind" are now on the government's in-
telligence-gathering payrolls.
"And there will not be," he declared.
Admiral Turner said he believed the
leaders of the Soviet Union "think in Nine-
teenth Century power terms." He said that
the view of the Soviet leaders was that
military force would compensate for their
nation's weaknesses in other areas.
The military balance between the Unit-
ed States and the Soviet Union, the head of
the Central Intelligence Agency said, "is
gradually eroding toward the Sovietside."
But he added, "I think we can and will re-
dress it."
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