DATE=5/25/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / RUSSIA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262798
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A Russian diplomat in Zambia say there is
still no confirmation that Angola's UNITA rebel
group has released five Russians pilots held for the
past year. The captives were to have been turned over
to Zambian authorities along the border between the
two countries. V-O-A Correspondent Alex Belida
reports from our Southern Africa Bureau.
TEXT: Russian Embassy First Secretary Viktor
Khripachev says he is very eager to see the pilots.
But Mr. Khripachev tells V-O-A in a telephone
interview from Lusaka that the five men, captured one
year ago by Angola's UNITA rebels, have still not
turned up.
UNITA said in a communique this week the Russians had
been turned over to authorities in Zambia on Monday
(5/22) as a humanitarian gesture. Mr. Khripachev says
Zambian officials are now searching for them along
their country's border with Angola.
The pilots, working for private air cargo companies in
Angola, were captured by the rebels when their
aircraft were shot down in separate incidents in May
and June of last year. UNITA announced in February
that six Russians were being released. The rebels'
latest statement makes no reference to the sixth
man.
Russia's Itar-Tass new agency says the Russian Foreign
Ministry is skeptical about reports that the men have
been released by UNITA. (Signed)
NEB/BEL/JWH/KBK
25-May-2000 08:35 AM EDT (25-May-2000 1235 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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