Angolan Rebels Refuse to Surrender

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, February 25, 2002

Angolan Rebels Refuse to Surrender

A UNITA representative said the rebels were "deeply shaken" by Savimbi's death but warned they would not abandon their struggle against the government, which began after the southwest African nation became independent from Portugal in 1975.

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Angola's government wants to secure a cease-fire and revive the collapsed peace process following the death of UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi, Portugal's foreign minister said Sunday after meeting with Angola's president.

A UNITA representative said the rebels were "deeply shaken" by Savimbi's death but warned they would not abandon their struggle against the government, which began after the southwest African nation became independent from Portugal in 1975.

Two days after his military said it killed Savimbi in a gunbattle, President Jose Eduardo dos Santos arrived in Portugal to present his plans for ending Angola's long and devastating civil war. He is to meet with President Bush in Washington on Tuesday.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Jaime Gama said dos Santos told him he was ready to take "decisive and rapid steps" to ensure a cease-fire.

"I was convinced that the Angolan authorities are aware of the need to act quickly to restore the peace process and achieve a cease-fire," Gama told a news conference. He also said dos Santos plans to organize elections.

Dos Santos, who has not commented publicly on Savimbi's death, did not attend the news conference and declined to talk to reporters at his hotel.

Earlier, Carlos Morgado, a UNITA representative in Portugal, said the rebels are jarred by the death of Savimbi, who founded the movement in 1966 and was its unquestioned leader since. But he said UNITA will continue to oppose the government.

"From now on, the scenario has changed, we'll have to find new paths. But this will never mean a military surrender. There'll be no military victory" for the government, Morgado said on Portuguese cable news channel SIC Noticias.

In a statement after Savimbi's death, the government urged UNITA fighters to surrender. The Portuguese Foreign Ministry urged the Angolan government to call a cease-fire and said UNITA should join in negotiations to map out the country's political future.

The war is believed to have killed about 500,000 people, though there are no confirmed figures. About 4 million people roughly one-third of the population have been driven from their homes by the fighting, creating a humanitarian crisis.

Possible successors to Savimbi are UNITA vice president Antonio Dembo and Savimbi's close aide Paulo Lukamba Gato, both believed to be hiding out in the bush.

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