UNITA calls for lifting of sanctions

After 36-years of waging a guerrilla war, UNITA now has to turn a rebel movement into a viable political party in Angola. After a two-day meeting in the capital, Luanda, the party announced that its political commission would be headed by Paulo "Gato" Lukambo, who emerged as UNITA's leader following the death of the movement's chieftan Jonas Savimbi in February. Before the party's congress scheduled to take place in 2003, Lukambo is expected to unite the fractured party under a single leadership. But the reunification process has already suffered a setback. The Renovada faction refused to attend the talks, saying it wanted more representation on the new commission. Since the 4 April ceasefire between UNITA and the government, the break-away group has reportedly found itself on the sidelines of the broader political changes happening in the country. In his closing speech, Lukambo urged the UN Security Council to lift sanctions imposed on his party, as the military wing has now been demobilised, the state-owned news agency Angop said. About 80,000 UNITA fighters have been demobilised and 5,000 former rebels have been integrated into the Angolan Armed Forces. Gato said: "We no longer have an army. We have laid down arms. Why are we still being discriminated against?" Angop reported. He added that due to financial sanctions UNITA's representatives abroad could not attend the talks. Last week the UN Security Council decided to extend, for a further 90 days, its suspension of travel restrictions on senior UNITA officials. However, the Council decided to maintain the embargo against UNITA that prevents it from buying weapons and fuel, selling diamonds and having representation abroad.