ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT SHOWS SAVIMBI'S DEAD BODY TO REPORTERS KUWAIT, FEB 23 (KUNA) -- THE BULLET-RIDDLED BODY OF THE VETERAN ANGOLAN REBEL LEADER JONAS SAVIMBI IS REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN SEEN BY JOURNALISTS, THE BBC REPORTED.
IT QUOTED A REPORTER FOR PORTUGAL'S STATE TELEVISION AS SAYING HE HAD SEEN SAVIMBI'S BODY IN REMOTE MOXICO PROVINCE IN EASTERN ANGOLA. "HIS BODY SUSTAINED 15 BULLET WOUNDS, TWO IN HIS HEAD AND THE REST SPREAD THROUGH HIS UPPER BODY AND LEGS. THERE ARE NO MORE DOUBTS: JONAS SAVIMBI IS REALLY DEAD," SAID THE REPORTER, ALVES FERNANDES. THE ANGOLAN STATE NEWS AGENCY ANGOP SAID SAVIMBI, 67 - WHO HAS LED THE UNITA REBEL MOVEMENT FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS - DIED IN FIGHTING WITH GOVERNMENT TROOPS ON FRIDAY. HIS BODY WAS SHOWN TO REPORTERS IN THE REMOTE TOWN OF LUCUSSE, ANGOP SAID. BORN IN 1934 IN BIE PROVINCE, SAVIMBI FOUGHT THE ANGOLAN GOVERNMENT SINCE INDEPENDENCE IN 1975.
ANGOLAN REPORTERS SAID TWO SENIOR REBEL OFFICERS - BRIGADIERS BIG JO AND BULA - WERE ALSO KILLED, BUT THAT SOME OF SAVIMBI'S CLOSEST AIDES MANAGED TO FLEE, ADDED THE BBC.
JONAS SAVIMBI FOUNDED UNITA - THE NATIONAL UNION FOR THE TOTAL INDEPENDENCE OF ANGOLA - IN THE LATE 1960S AS A RIVAL MOVEMENT TO THE MPLA WHICH LATER BECAME THE GOVERNMENT. THE CONFLICT IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE KILLED MORE THAN 500,000 PEOPLE, AND DISPLACED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF OTHERS. ANGOLA HAS BEEN RACKED BY WAR FOR 25 YEARS. (PICKUP PREVIOUS) FA.MAB KUNA 232052 Feb 02NNNN