Humanitarian convoys attacked, Catate shelled

An Angolan relief convoy was attacked by unidentified gunmen some 200 km east of the capital Luanda this week in an ambush which claimed the lives of at least four policemen escorting the vehicles, humanitarian sources told IRIN on Tuesday. The sources said further details of the attack were still awaited. The convoy was ambushed the between towns of Lucala and Samba Caju in Cuanza Norte Province. "We are still uncertain as to how many vehicles belonging to a local NGO were involved," a humanitarian official told IRIN. "This is another indication of how dangerous the roads have become for humanitarian deliveries since the resumption of the civil war last year between government forces and UNITA rebels." Meanwhile, the Catholic charity, Caritas, on Tuesday denied media reports that some of its vehicles had suffered a similar attack to the north of Luanda. In a separate development, the sources said UNITA forces shelled the government-held town of Catete, just 70 km southeast of Luanda on Tuesday morning. Dozens of people were reportedly injured.