DATE=9/21/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / UNITA (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254142
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The UNITA rebel movement in Angola says the
recent killing of one of its parliamentary deputies
was an assassination. We have details from V-O-A
Southern Africa Correspondent Alex Belida.
TEXT: UNITA Parliamentary deputy Joao Ngalangombe
Jacob was found dead on the outskirts of Luanda last
Saturday. He had been shot in the head. Police in
the Angolan capital suggest robbery may have been the
motive for the killing. But in a statement to news
organizations (on Tuesday), UNITA says Mr. Jacob was
assassinated.
The statement does not specifically accuse government
authorities of involvement in his death. But it notes
the UNITA deputy is the third rebel official to have
died under what are described as questionable
circumstances since representatives of the UNITA
movement returned to Luanda two years ago. It also
notes four others have been imprisoned.
Mr. Jacob and other UNITA officials returned to the
capital to take up seats in Parliament and several
posts in a National Unity government under the
provisions of a 1994 United Nations backed peace
agreement.
But that agreement collapsed last year when government
troops launched an offensive against rebel strongholds
in Angola's Central Highlands area, rekindling the
country's civil war.
Since then the rebels have seized control over vast
sections of the countryside. However, government
troops are reported to have launched a new offensive
last week. UNITA claims the government attack
included air drops of napalm and other toxic
substances on suspected rebel positions. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/GE/BK
21-Sep-1999 12:25 PM LOC (21-Sep-1999 1625 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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