Heavy fighting in the oil-rich northern Angolan enclave of Cabinda is threatening the lives of three Portuguese hostages held by separatist rebels since May last year. A FLEC-FAC spokesman told church-run Radio Ecclesia on Tuesday - monitored by Reuters - that government bombing was putting the hostages at risk. “We are in a war situation. Cabinda is besieged,” spokesman Liberal Nuno said.
FLEC-FAC said two weeks ago that it planned to release one hostage who was suffering from acute hepatitis, but his fate remained unclear. The Angolan government sent troops deep into Cabinda after another rebel splinter group known as FLEC-Renewed abducted five Portuguese construction workers and their Angolan driver on 9 March, Reuters reported.
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