Hello Georges
Some news from Angola. Take note of the last paragraph.
Army Retakes M'Banza Congo, Kills Over 400 Rebels
Luanda TPA Television on February 12, 1999
Twenty days after being occupied by Jonas Savimbi's men, M'Banza Congo, the capital of Zaire Province, has returned to government hands. The Savimbistas left 400 dead and large quantities of war materiel on the battleground after fierce clashes with FAA and the National Police today. A military source cited by Radio Nacional de Angola, says FAA forces have adopted special measures to prevent further attacks by men in the service of Savimbi. Until its occupation, M'Banza Congo was only defended by Public Order Police. FAA forces recently retook the town of Songo, Uige Province. FAA forces are currently engaged in mopping up operations in areas sill occupied by the Savimbistas.
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Government Engaged in "Massive" Bombing of UNITA Forces Around Andulo
Noticias de Angola on February 15, 1999
Luanda: The FAA's [Angolan Armed Forces] priority is centered on Andulo, one of UNITA's [National Union for the Total Independence of Angola] strongholds in the central highlands. FAA's seizure of the town of Calucinga is an indication that the government army continues to make inroads in various directions with Andulo in mind.
In addition to planting land mines on roads leading to Andulo, the Angolan rebels have destroyed all bridges in the direction of their stronghold. An FAA source, who asked not to be identified, told ' Folha 8' that army engineering teams have begun to erect metal bridges to reopen the road network destroyed by UNITA.
While the engineering corps continues its operations, massive air bombing is under way against the Black Cockerel's [UNITA's] pockets of resistance around Andulo, whose fall is now imminent.
Countering FAA's pressure on the central highlands, the Savimbi forces have directed their activities at economic targets, namely the diamond areas of Lunda Norte and Lunda Sul Provinces. The Kassanguidi diamond mine has been subject to UNITA shelling, which is trying to take it by storm at all costs.
Regards |
