ANGOLA: Security deteriorates across the country

Security has deteriorated across Angola in recent days as UNITA rebels shelled two provincial capitals and hit-and-run attacks were reported on roads in most areas of the country,diplomats in the capital Luanda told IRIN on Wednesday. The worst shelling was reported from the two besieged government-held towns of Malanje, some 400 km east of Luanda, and Kuito, 600 km to the southeast. Casualty figures were unobtainable because humanitarian staff had been withdrawn until further notice, they said. The official newspaper, 'Actual', reported that the army had been weakened in its attempts to defend the Kuito district, but that "FAA (national army) forces have begun to receive highly sophisticated war material which will help them reverse the situation". It said flights had been coming into Luanda twice a week "delivering assorted weaponry" including T-72 tanks. The diplomats, meanwhile, cited unconfirmed reports of three attacks within 100 km of Luanda itself. In one, they said an electricity pylon had been sabotaged near Catate to the southeast, but that the electricity power line had not been cut. Two hit-and-run attacks were also reported on the road outside Caxito north of the city. "It is unclear whether these attacks, which were isolated, were simply the result of banditry, a source told IRIN. "But with many roads in the country too dangerous to use thus forcing the humanitarian community to fly emergency food in, the insecurity has increased. There have been dozens of reports of attacks on goods vehicles or private vehicles around the country in recent days." Official media reports on Wednesday quoted a police source as saying UNITA forces had also resumed mine laying and the destruction of bridges on the main roads of the northern Uige Province. The bridge over the Kuilo River, near the town of Sanza Pombo, 110 km west of the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), had been destroyed. The Portuguese news agency, Lusa, said rebel forces last Friday had captured the northern Uige town of Maquela do Zombo, which is situated on the DRC border 370 km north of Luanda. "They now control all the frontier regions of Uige Province," the agency said. It quoted Uige vice-governor for defence, Fernando Jose Canga, as saying "UNITA columns were daily entering Angola from secret bases in the DRC". The capture of the town was not reported by the official media in Angola or confirmed by the government. With an estimated 700,000 people displaced since the resumption of fighting last year, the UN Security Council said it was concerned at "the serious deterioration of the political, military and humanitarian situation in Angola." In a statement last week blaming UNITA leader Jonoas Savimbi for the cause of the present crisis, it said, it was particularly concerned at the plight of the civilian population in UNITA areas.