DATE=12/21/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243358
TITLE=ANGOLA/UNITA UPDATE (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// EDS: ADDS DENIALS FROM NAMIBIA AND ZIMBABWE IN THIRD PARAGRAPH
OF TEXT. OTHERWISE UNCHANGED. //
INTRO: IN ANGOLA, THE "UNITA" REBEL MOVEMENT CLAIMS TROOPS FROM
NAMIBIA AND ZIMBABWE HAVE ENTERED THE COUNTRY TO JOIN ANGOLAN
GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THEIR LATEST OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REBELS.
MORE FROM V-O-A SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA.
TEXT: A COMMUNIQUE RELEASED BY UNITA CLAIMS NAMIBIAN AND
ZIMBABWEAN TROOPS JOINED THE FIGHTING LAST FRIDAY (EDS: DECEMBER
18).
THE COMMUNIQUE GIVES NO DETAILS ON THE ALLEGED DEPLOYMENTS.
BUT IT CALLS ON THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO TAKE NOTE OF THE
INVOLVEMENT OF THESE OUTSIDE FORCES. IT ALSO APPEALS TO ANGOLANS
TO RESIST WHAT IT CALLS "THE FOREIGNERS WHO CHALLENGE OUR DIGNITY
AND OUR NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE."
ANGOLAN AUTHORITIES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE HELD TALKS IN RECENT MONTHS
WITH OFFICIALS FROM NAMIBIA AND ZIMBABWE REGARDING THEIR POSSIBLE
PARTICIPATION IN AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE REBEL MOVEMENT.
HOWEVER SENIOR MILITARY COMMANDERS IN BOTH COUNTRIES HAVE DENIED
SENDING ANY TROOPS TO ANGOLA.
ANGOLA LAUNCHED AN OPERATION LAST MONTH AIMED AT SEIZING UNITA'S
LAST STRONGHOLDS IN THE COUNTRY'S CENTRAL HIGHLANDS AND AT
CAPTURING -- OR KILLING -- REBEL LEADERS, INCLUDING JONAS
SAVIMBI.
HOWEVER THE ASSAULT APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED AND UNITA HAS
COUNTER-ATTACKED, THREATENING KEY GOVERNMENT-HELD TOWNS,
INCLUDING CUITO, HUAMBO AND MALANGE.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS ACCUSED UNITA OF EMPLOYING FOREIGN MERCENARIES
FROM ISRAEL, MOROCCO, SOUTH AFRICA AND UKRAINE.
THE LATEST FIGHTING HAS SHATTERED THE COUNTRY'S 1994 PEACE
ACCORD, WHICH ENDED TWO DECADES OF CIVIL WAR IN ANGOLA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/PCF
21-Dec-98 10:41 AM EST (1541 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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