Fresh tensions in the south

The Angolan authorities on Wednesday reported heightened tensions in the southern Huila province where UNITA rebels have stepped up attacks in recent weeks. The official daily, 'Jornal de Angola', quoted Huila Province governor Ramos da Cruz as saying UNITA forces, "have stepped up assassinations, abductions, ambushes and the mining of farm roads as well as attacks on unprotected areas" creating what he called a "worrisome" situation. Humanitarian sources in Angola told IRIN the food pipeline to the Huila provincial capital, Lubango, 700 km south of Luanda, now faced disruption because of a lack of donor funding, and that what little there was to go around would have to be distributed more carefully to ensure the most vulnerable people did not go hungry. The sources said there were currently an estimated 76,000 people in Huila who had been displaced by recent fighting between government forces and UNITA rebels. The 'Journal de Angola' quoted an army source as saying UNITA held the strategic towns of Chicomba and Chipindo on the road northeast of Lubango leading to the central highlands. The rebels, it added, were also operating from eight other bases in the province each holding units of up to 50 men deployed for guerrilla attacks.