/ 8 March 2001

ANGOLAN REBELS CLAIM FURTHER GAINS

ANGOLAN UNITA rebels said on Wednesday they had shot down two government helicopters in the central Angola and claimed to have inflicted more casualties on government forces, the Lusa news agency reported. The rebel movement led by Jonas Savimbi claims to have killed more than 200 people and destroyed 23 military vehicles in fighting in the last two weeks. They include 61 government soldiers, police officers and diamond miners of various nationalities slain in an attack last Wednesday in the North Lunda province.