Train bombing signals new UNITA offensive in Angola

["marco rodrigues" <machetero_ngola@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Train bombing signals new UNITA offensive in Angola
By Chris Talbot
23 August 2001

The latest reports put the number killed when a train was blown up in Angola 
last week at 252. UNITA, the notoriously brutal organisation led by Jonas 
Savimbi that has been fighting a civil war with the Angolan government since 
1975, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The train hit a mine between the towns of Zenza and Dondo, 150 kilometres 
south-east of the Angolan capital, Luanda. The train was carrying fuel that 
exploded and fire spread to the neighbouring carriages. Of about 500 people 
that were on board, 165 were injured.

A UNITA spokesman claimed that the train was a legitimate target, as it was 
carrying arms and military supplies and had a large military and police escort. 
However, survivors told the press that there were only a small number of 
soldiers guarding the train. Military escorts are standard procedure on 
transport in Angola. Reports state that UNITA militia gunned down civilians 
fleeing from the train.

The train attack is the biggest operation mounted by UNITA since it was routed 
by the forces of the MPLA government in 1999. According to BBC news reports, 
UNITA has managed to regroup since then, using guerrilla tactics to hit at 
areas throughout the country, including the coastal regions where the 
government is well established. Recent reports include the killing of 80 people 
in an attack on the town of Caxito, east of Luanda, the abduction of 60 
children from an orphanage, as well as attacks on the towns of Uige, Cacuso 
east of Malange and Menongue in southern Cuando Cubango province.

Full Article: http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/aug2001/ang-a23.shtml