Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: U.N. warns Angolan rebels, calls for end to fighting Date: Sat, 31 Oct 92 14:00:15 EST Message-ID: \SE A;WORLD \SS (WS) \HD U.N. warns Angolan rebels, calls for end to fighting \BY FROM COMBINED DISPATCHES \DT NEW YORK NEW YORK - Alarmed at the prospects of renewed civil war in Angola, the U.N. Security Council yesterday demanded an end to fighting there and said any government imposed by force would be isolated. Western diplomats said a government imposed by Jonas Savimbi's rebels would not be recognized and that economic sanctions would be placed on the country. In a warning intended for Mr. Savimbi's forces, the 15-member Security Council said it "strongly condemns any resumption of hostilities and urgently demands that such acts cease immediately." The resolution, adopted unanimously, did not mention Mr. Savimbi by name, but diplomats said it was directed at the forces of his Union for the Total Independence of Angola, or UNITA. The Associated Press, in an article from Luanda, the Angolan capital, said widespread fighting reportedly broke out yesterday between government forces and UNITA, claiming more than a dozen lives and threatening a fragile peace accord. However, a report on UNITA radio in Lisbon said Mr. Savimbi ordered a cease-fire. UNITA's Vorgan radio said in a broadcast monitored by the British Broadcasting Corp. that Mr. Savimbi ordered a cease-fire in Huambo, the African nation's second-largest city, and that the situation in the city was calm. In Washington, State Department spokesman Joseph Snyder expressed concern yesterday over the reports from Angola. "If true, this would represent a major breach of the peace accords, which we would condemn," he said. At the United Nations, British Ambassador David Hannay told the council his country condemned UNITA's behavior. "It is a historic blunder to think that the denial of election results and the resort to force will be accepted by the international community. It will not," he said. Angolan Ambassador Alfonso Van Dunem said his government asked the council to "take strong measures to force UNITA to accept election results." The United Nations certified the elections as "generally free and fair." A runoff was called but Mr. Savimbi refused to say whether he would agree to a second round. The U.N. resolution yesterday urged both sides to hold talks immediately about a second round of presidential elections. It extended the mandate of U.N. observers for an unspecified period. Earlier yesterday the official Radio Nacional de Angola reported that UNITA seized Huambo's main hospital, radio station and police headquarters. Fierce fighting also was reported around the television station and governor's residence. Witnesses said at least 15 persons died in an hourlong firefight near Luanda's international airport. A U.N. helicopter was hit by ground fire as it tried to land in Huambo, according to a Portuguese official on an international commission monitoring the cease-fire. He spoke on condition of anonymity, and said he had no information on casualties. "We already have war," Rui Mingas, Angola's ambassador to Portugal, told Lisbon's TSF radio. "It's not declared but, in practice, that's what it is." Mr. Savimbi made Huambo his stronghold since leaving Luanda after the elections. Radio Nacional de Angola described the situation there as "catastrophic." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM