To: Kevin Hamlin who wrote (113 ) 12/23/1998 3:50:00 PM From: Chas. Read Replies (1) | Respond to
UNITA claims responsibility for DiamondWorksattack
(Adds quotes from UNITA secretary general paras 2,3)
By Paul Richardson
JOHANNESBURG, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Angolan rebel movement UNITA on Tuesday
claimed responsibility for an attack on a Canadian diamond mine in
northeastern Angolan last month but said it did not know the whereabouts
of 10 missing employees.
Paulo Lukambo Gato, secretary general of UNITA -- Jonas Savimbi's
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola -- said the attack
on the mine on November 8 was a consequence of the continuing war in the
country.
''We attacked the position but we did not take any hostages. We will
attack more positions in that area in the coming days,'' Gato told
Reuters in a telephone interview, speaking from UNITA's central
highlands headquarters in Andulo.
UNITA has previously said it was investigating the attack on the Yetwene
mine, owned by Canadian miner DiamondWorks Ltd (Toronto:DMW.TO - news),
in which eight people died and 24 others were wounded.
Some 100 armed men are believed to have taken part in the two-hour
attack on the mine and ten people -- a Briton, a South African, two
Filipinos and six Angolans -- are still missing.
At the time of the attack, there were reports that the attackers were
wearing UNITA uniforms.
DiamondWorks chairman Bruce Walsham said earlier on Tuesday the mine was
losing two million dollars a month in lost output after the mine was
closed following the attack.
He said the company had no new information on the missing employees but
was following every avenue to try and locate them.
Gato warned foreigners in the area where the mine is situated -- the
Lunda Norte province -- to leave as the rebel movement planned to spread
the conflict in the country.
''Lunda Norte is a target. Who would fight a war without targeting
diamond mines?'' Gato said.
''If there are still foreign people there they had better think about a
way to leave instead of living in the area,'' he added.
UNITA has been involved in fierce fighting with troops of the ruling
MPLA -- the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola -- since a
multi-pronged air and land government offensive began on December 5
against UNITA's central highland strongholds of Andulo and Bailundo.
Walsham said security enhancements at the mine, recommended following an
extensive review of its security arrangements, were nearing completion.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
More Quotes and News:Diamondworks Ltd (Toronto:DMW.TO - news)
