DATE=4/19/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248283
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA (L ONLY)
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DESPITE INTERNATIONAL SANCTIONS, ANGOLA'S UNITA REBEL
MOVEMENT CONTINUES TO ACQUIRE NEW WEAPONS -- INCLUDING POWERFUL
ROCKETS THAT COULD BE USED IN TERROR ATTACKS ON GOVERNMENT-HELD
CITIES. SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRESPONDENT ALEX BELIDA REPORTS ON
THIS DRAMATIC NEW ASPECT OF ANGOLA'S ONGOING CIVIL WAR.
TEXT: A SENIOR ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL SAYS THE UNITA REBELS
HAVE ACQUIRED FROG-SEVEN GROUND ARTILLERY ROCKETS. THESE WEAPONS
CAN CARRY A MASSIVE 550-KILOGRAM CONVENTIONAL WARHEAD AND HAVE A
RANGE OF 70-KILOMETERS. MILITARY ANALYSTS FAMILIAR WITH THE
WEAPON SAY IT IS NOT PARTICULARLY ACCURATE. BUT THEY CALL IT A
"TERROR WEAPON" WHICH IF FIRED INTO A CITY OR TOWN COULD CREATE
WIDESPREAD PANIC.
THE ANGOLAN OFFICIAL, INTERVIEWED IN LUANDA BY THE VOICE OF
AMERICA ON CONDITION OF ANONYMITY, COULD NOT SAY HOW MANY OF
THE FROG-SEVENS UNITA HAS DEPLOYED OR WHERE THE REBEL ROCKETS ARE
LOCATED.
HOWEVER, INDEPENDENT SECURITY SOURCES SAY THAT EARLIER THIS YEAR,
AT LEAST FOUR OF THE ROCKETS WERE SPOTTED AROUND UNITA'S CENTRAL
HIGHLANDS STRONGHOLD OF ANDULO, APPARENTLY DEPLOYED AS A
DEFENSIVE WEAPON AGAINST GOVERNMENT ASSAULTS.
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONFIRMED REPORTS OF ANY OF THE ROCKETS
BEING FIRED IN THE CURRENT FIGHTING IN ANGOLA. SOME DIPLOMATS IN
LUANDA APPEAR SKEPTICAL THAT UNITA HAS SUCH WEAPONS, AND HAVE
ASKED IF THE REBELS HAVE THEM, WHY HAVE THEY NOT USED THEM.
DESPITE THIS, INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENTS OBTAINED BY THE VOICE OF
AMERICA INDICATE UNITA IS INCREASING ITS ARSENAL OF FROG-SEVENS.
ACCORDING TO THESE DOCUMENTS, NOW CIRCULATING AMONG REGIONAL
GOVERNMENTS, 12 MORE FROG-SEVENS, MANUFACTURED BY NORTH KOREA,
ARRIVED RECENTLY IN THE TANZANIAN PORT OF DAR ES SALAAM AND WERE
AWAITING SHIPMENT TO THE REBELS IN ANGOLA.
AFRICAN SECURITY SOURCES SAY DAR ES SALAAM IS A MAIN PORT FOR
UNITA'S LARGE SHIPMENTS OF WEAPONS AND OTHER SUPPLIES. THE
SOURCES SAY THIS EQUIPMENT IS THEN TRANSPORTED BY BOTH AIR AND
ROAD. IT IS OFTEN ADDRESSED TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES IN MALAWI AND
ZAMBIA.
SINCE NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, AT LEAST THREE CARGO SHIPS FROM
NORTH KOREA AND THE UKRAINE ARE UNDERSTOOD TO HAVE DOCKED IN DAR
ES SALAAM AND UNLOADED MILITARY EQUIPMENT DESTINED FOR UNITA.
IN ADDITION TO THE FROG-SEVEN ROCKETS, INTELLIGENCE DOCUMENTS SAY
THE LATEST SUPPLIES SHIPPED TO THE REBELS HAVE INCLUDED
ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES, MORTAR BOMBS, AND ROCKETS FOR MULTIPLE
ROCKET LAUNCHERS. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/RAE
19-Apr-99 7:30 AM EDT (1130 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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