DATE=5/30/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ANGOLA / RUSSIANS (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-262966
BYLINE=ALEX BELIDA
DATELINE=JOHANNESBURG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Five Russian pilots freed by Angola's UNITA
rebel movement have arrived in Zambia. V-O-A Southern
Africa Correspondent Alex Belida reports Russian
diplomats say they have no immediate word on the men's
condition.
TEXT: The Russian embassy in Lusaka says Zambia's
home affairs minister announced the arrival of the
five pilots onto Zambian territory on national radio.
Russian embassy First Secretary Viktor Khripachev
tells V-O-A the men are still in the remote western
part of the country, close to the Angolan border. Mr.
Khripachev says embassy officials have so far not
seen or spoken with the pilots, who are expected in
Lusaka shortly. He says the embassy has no word on
their condition.
The five men had been held for the past year by
Angola's UNITA rebels. Their planes were shot down in
separate incidents while they were ferrying cargo to
government-held towns. UNITA announced it was
releasing them earlier this year. It said the men had
been handed over to Zambian authorities last week but
there was no confirmation from either Zambian or
Russian officials at the time.
Tensions remain high along the Zambian-Angolan border.
In an incident last week, Zambian troops captured an
Angolan soldier after an exchange of fire that left
one Zambian soldier and two civilians injured. Police
say the Angolan government troops crossed into Zambia
to raid a village.
In the past, Angola has accused Zambia of providing
support to the UNITA rebels and warned of possible
armed reprisals. Zambia's government has repeatedly
denied giving any backing to UNITA. (Signed)
NEB/BEL/JWH/KBK
30-May-2000 10:53 AM EDT (30-May-2000 1453 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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