ANGOLA: Rebels claim to have repelled attack on their base by government troops

Record ID: 863155

  • Title: ANGOLA: Rebels claim to have repelled attack on their base by government troops
  • Date: 1st October 1987
  • Summary: GV, PAN FROM UNITA troops TO trenches. 1.15 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 16th October 1987 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Angola, Angola
  • City:
  • Country: Angola
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAC28UDJW1EV7ZZ6F32FQ4JPHF5
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Rebels in southern Angola claim they have repelled an attack on their base by government troops during some of the worst fighting on the African continent. UNITA (National Union for the Total Independence of Angola) has opposed the Marxist government of Angola since the country won independence from Portugal in 1975. Soviet-backed government troops tried to reach UNITA's base and airstrip at Mavinga in southern Angola. They met strong resistance from UNITA rebels who were helped by South African-led air attacks. Fierce fights were raging during the week ending September 26. UNITA said it has regained control of the Mavinga area. Soviet vehicles and weapons were destroyed during one attack. Other battles consisted of attacks on columns of Angolan government troops. So far specific estimates of the dead and injured from both sides have not been issued. In the past, fighting has killed thousands of rebels and troops loyal to the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government in Luanda.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register