DATE=12/22/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-243408
TITLE=ANGOLA / NAMIBIA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// EDS: THIS REPORT IS BASED ON EXCLUSIVE REPORTING BY V-O-A'S
PORTUGUESE-TO-AFRICA SERVICE ///
INTRO: NAMIBIAN TROOPS HAVE ARRIVED IN THE ANGOLAN TOWN OF
HUAMBO TO JOIN GOVERNMENT FORCES IN THEIR OFFENSIVE AGAINST THE
UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT. V-O-A CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS
FROM OUR SOUTHERN AFRICA BUREAU.
TEXT: NAMIBIAN AUTHORITIES HAVE DENIED CLAIMS BY THE UNITA REBEL
MOVEMENT THAT THEY AND ZIMBABWE HAVE BOTH SENT TROOPS TO ANGOLA
TO JOIN THE GOVERNMENT SIDE IN THE LATEST FIGHTING.
BUT EYEWITNESSES TELL V-O-A THAT A LARGE CONTINGENT OF NAMIBIAN
SOLDIERS DID ARRIVE BY PLANE AT HUAMBO AIRPORT AT MID-AFTERNOON
ON MONDAY.
THESE SOURCES SAY ACCESS TO THE FACILITY WAS TEMPORARILY CLOSED
OFF AND THE NAMIBIANS LEFT THE PLANE AT THE FAR END OF THE RUNWAY
FROM THE TERMINAL BUILDING, APPARENTLY TO AVOID DRAWING ATTENTION
TO THEIR ARRIVAL.
ANGOLAN FORCES LAUNCHED AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST UNITA LAST MONTH IN
A BID TO CAPTURE THE REBEL MOVEMENT'S TWIN CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
STRONGHOLDS OF ANDULO AND BAILUNDO AND TO CAPTURE OR KILL UNITA'S
LEADERS.
BUT WELL-ARMED UNITA TROOPS COUNTER-ATTACKED, APPARENTLY
INFLICTING HEAVY LOSSES ON THE GOVERNMENT SIDE. SINCE THEN,
UNITA FORCES HAVE MOVED AGAINST SEVERAL KEY GOVERNMENT-HELD TOWNS
IN THE REGION, INCLUDING HUAMBO.
THE FIGHTING HAS SHATTERED THE COUNTRY'S 1994 PEACE ACCORDS,
WHICH ENDED TWO DECADES OF CIVIL WAR IN OIL AOD DIAMOND RICH
ANGOLA. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH
22-Dec-98 10:59 AM EST (1559 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
