Luanda - The Angolan army has captured a key position from its UNITA rebel foes during an offensive to regain command of the country after nine months of civil war, a senior diplomat said yesterday. He said Luandan forces had captured Bailundo, a small town in Angola's central highlands that has traditionally been used by UNITA as a headquarters, together with a rebel base at Andulo, 120 km to the north-east.
Neither officials of UNITA - the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola - nor the government were available to comment on the development. Other independent confirmation was also not available.