From: barnhart@ddsw1.MCS.COM (Mr. Aaron Barnhart)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: IPS:ANGOLA: US DEPLORES RENEWED VIOLENCE
Date: 7 Nov 92 03:09:59 GMT
Article-I.D.: ddsw1.BxBsso.Eq4
Organization: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.A.

Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all rights reserved.  Permission to re-
print within 7 days of original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Reference: North America
Title: ANGOLA: US DEPLORES RENEWED VIOLENCE


washington, oct 30 (ips) -- the us state department has deplored
the renewed outbreak of hostilities in angola and called for an
immediate summit meeting between president jose eduardo dos
santos and opposition leader jonas savimbi to stop the violence.

in a formal letter distributed to the media on friday,
official spokesman jose snyder said washington is ''deeply
concerned'' by reports that troops of savimbi's union for the
total independence of angola (unita) are attempting to extend
their control in southern biu and benguela provinces.

''if true,'' said snyder,''this would represent a major breach
of the peace accords, which we would condemn. we will hold
responsible any party which refuses to engage in dialogue to end
this crisis,'' he said.

according to a state department offical who blamed unita, the
situation is ''very serious. it is not a civil war yet,'' he
said, adding that in the capital, luanda, the situation was
''extremely tense''.

the official, who asked not to be identified, confirmed
reports that unita has launched armed operations in the past 24
hours to take over towns and villages in various parts of the
country. several people were killed in luanda where both sides
have heavily armed troops.

''i would not rule out'' a unita attack on luanda, he told ips,
adding that washington would not recognise a government set up by
savimbi, despite its backing for unita during the 16-year civil
conflict.

''it's not clear whether this is the start of an all-out civil
war or a tactical move by savimbi to gain leverage in
negotiations for the creation of a coalition government with dos
santos' popular movement for the liberation of angola (mpla).''

''i would look to what happens in luanda in the next few days
as a key to figuring out which it is, '' said the official.

unita's moves follow a speech here on thursday by washington's
top africa diplomat, assistant secretary of state herman cohen,
in which he called for an interim coalition government to be
formed ''as soon as feasible.''

cohen, who recently returned from a two-day trip to angola,
said unita and the mpla had begun preparing ''very reasonable
concrete proposals for a joint governing mechanism.''

but he warned that the situation is ''too tense to wait much
longer '' for the formation of a unity government able to calm
passions unleashed by the first round of elections one month ago.
(more/ips)
-----

angola: us (2)

in the elections the mpla obtained 54 percent of the vote for
parliament to unita's 30 percent, while dos santos fell just
short of a majority needed to avoid a run-off against savim,bi


for the presidency.

however, as the votes were being counted, savimbi denouced the
process as fraudulent, fled the capital for his stronghold in
huambo and ordered his generals out of the national army being
formed in accordance with the may 1991 peace accords which ended
the 16-year civil war.

since the the peace accord's mediators -- portugal, the us and
russia, as well as south africa and the un force in angola-- have
tried to coax both sides to a meeting designed to lay the
groundwork for a unity government.

cohen said thursday he was ''cautiously optimistic'' that both
parties would work together, but friday's statement assumed a
tone of urgency that appeared to belie cohen's optimism.

''it is essential that president dos santos and dr savimbi act
decisively to stop the spiral of violence leading angola towards
renewed civil war,'' it said, and called for all troops to be
returned to their barracks.

the state department did not say what action it would take if
the violence continues. if the civil war is resumed, washington
expects savimbi will seek to consolidate his control over the
central highlands and southern angola.

a key question is what south africa would do. the angolan
media claimed friday that south african forces had crossed into
the country to support unita -- charges categorically denied by
pretoria. the state department official interviewed by ips also
said the reports were ''false''.

independent analyst william minter agreed that the government
of president f.w. de klerk, which faces a difficult constitutional
transition and a deteriorating economy, is unlikely to back savimbi,
but he suggested that some elements linked to south africa's
military-security apparatus may be working with unita.
(ends/ips/jl)
----
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african