Angolan forces claim advances

Catumbela, - Government forces in Angola claimed yesterday to have taken control of Nharea, previously held by UNITA rebels, …

Catumbela, - Government forces in Angola claimed yesterday to have taken control of Nharea, previously held by UNITA rebels, and said they were marching on the southern rebel base town of Andulo.

"We took Nharea today and we are marching towards Andulo," army spokesman Gen Jose Manuel said in the southern town of Catumbela.

Andulo is located some 460 kilometres southeast of Luanda. The spokesman said rebel plans to take power in Luanda had "failed" and government forces were continuing their counter-offensives at several other fronts in the rekindled civil war.