DATE=11/18/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-241839
TITLE=ANGOLA FIGHTING (L/S VER)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=LUANDA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: IN ANGOLA, FIGHTING IS REPORTED CONTINUING BETWEEN
GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND MEMBERS OF THE "UNITA" REBEL GROUP NEAR THE
REBEL'S STRONGHOLD OF BAILUNDO IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF THE
COUNTRY. MORE FROM VOA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA IN LUANDA.
TEXT: A VOA REPORTER BASED IN HUAMBO QUOTES MILITARY SOURCES
THERE AS SAYING FIGHTING THAT ERUPTED IN THE AREA FOUR DAYS AGO
BETWEEN GOVERNMENT TROOPS AND UNITA REBELS GOES ON. THERE IS NO
WORD ON THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES, BUT A UNITED NATIONS RELIEF
OFFICIAL IN LUANDA, MONITORING THE SITUATION, DESCRIBES THE
FIGHTING AS "HEAVY."
THE FIGHTING HAS CUT THE MAIN ROAD LINKING HUAMBO AND OTHER KEY
TOWNS IN THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AREA WITH THE COAST, DISRUPTING
OVERLAND SHIPMENTS OF HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE, AS WELL AS OTHER
VEHICLE TRAFFIC.
ANGOLAN MILITARY SOURCES NOW SUSPECT UNITA LAUNCHED A PREEMPTIVE
STRIKE AIMED AT CUTTING THE ROAD NEAR THE TOWN OF WAMA, NORTH OF
HUAMBO, TO PREVENT GOVERNMENT TROOPS FROM MOVING INTO THE AREA TO
ENCIRCLE AND EVENTUALLY SEIZE BAILUNDO. THEY ALSO BELIEVE THE
UNITA ATTACK MAY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO BUY TIME FOR REBEL LEADERS
TO FLEE TO THE EAST.
UNITA AND THE GOVERNMENT SIGNED A PEACE AGREEMENT FOUR YEARS AGO
TO END ANGOLA'S LONG CIVIL WAR. BUT AUTHORITIES IN LUANDA
RECENTLY SEVERED ALL CONTACT WITH REBEL LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI,
BRANDING HIM A WAR CRIMINAL WHO NEVER HONORED HIS COMMITMENTS TO
DEMILITARIZE UNITA.
THE REBEL MOVEMENT HAS BEEN BLAMED FOR CARRYING OUT SCORES OF
ATTACKS IN RECENT WEEKS AROUND THE COUNTRY. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
ANGOLANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED BY THE RENEWED FIGHTING. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
18-Nov-98 6:36 AM EST (1136 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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