DATE=9/28/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / FIGHTING (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254402
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: In Angola, the UNITA rebel movement continues
to deny reports that it has lost one of its major
strongholds to advancing government troops. V-O-A
Correspondent Alex Belida reports from our Southern
Africa Bureau.
TEXT: UNITA says that two weeks after the start of
the government's latest offensive against rebel
positions, Angola's armed forces, in its words, have
"no major gain to show." The rebel group issued a new
statement saying reports of the fall of the rebel
stronghold of Bailundo have not been publicly
confirmed by the government itself.
Even if the town in Angola's embattled Central
Highlands region does fall, UNITA says it is one thing
"to win a battle, the other is to win the war."
Government sources have told V-O-A privately that
their troops seized Bailundo late last week. They
claim a top UNITA general surrendered along with two
thousand rebel soldiers.
But there has been no formal statement from the
government nor any independent confirmation.
The rebel statement says UNITA had been bracing for a
government attack for some time. It claims rebel
forces have been reorganized and redeployed in
anticipation of the offensive.
UNITA predicts what it calls "one of the most
ferocious battles" ever fought on the African
continent. If Angola is to be spared further
devastation and human suffering, UNITA says, there
will need to be a new dialogue and a cease-fire.
UNITA says it remains ready for talks. But the
government has ruled out further negotiations. It
says UNITA has failed to live up to its obligation to
demilitarize under the country's 1994 peace agreement.
The breakdown of that agreement led to the renewal of
Angola's civil war late last year. (SIGNED)
NEB/BEL/JWH/BK
28-Sep-1999 11:03 AM EDT (28-Sep-1999 1503 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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