Power lines sabotaged near Angola border

Suspected Angolan UNITA rebels have blown up electricity pylons, bringing the construction industry in northern Namibia's Caprivi and Kavango districts to a standstill, 'The Namibian' reported on Wednesday.

"Jonas Savimbi's rebel movement, UNITA, is believed to be behind the sabotage which has left a high school and a police station in darkness," it said. "In addition, two women were injured yesterday after stepping on landmines believed to have been left by the same people who blew up the pylons." The newspaper said sabotage of key infrastructure appears to be a change in tactics by the rebels who have until now raided villages and
attacked motorists in their search for food and supplies.

The attacks followed Namibia's decision at the end of last year to grant Angolan government forces the right to launch attacks against UNITA from Namibian territory. It said nearly 30 people, most of them civilians, have been killed by unidentified gunmen who robbed them of food and other belongings this year while scores had lost limbs after setting off anti-personnel landmines.