President Bush has called for a ceasefire in Angola, urging President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to seize the moment to end 26 years of war following the death of UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi.

President Bush made the appeal Tuesday after he met President dos Santos and two other African leaders -- Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Festus Mogae of Botswana.

Mr. Bush said all parties in Angola have an obligation to seize the present moment to end the war and to develop the country's vast wealth for the benefit of all Angolans.

Mr. dos Santos told reporters he was eager to have a cease-fire in place as soon as possible. But he said that would depend on what he called "the political will" of the UNITA rebels.

UNITA has been waging war, on and off, against the government since 1975. The conflict has displaced millions of people and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

Mr. Savimbi was killed last week in a clash with government troops. In the first reported attack since his death, UNITA rebels killed nine people and injured 15 others in an attack in central Angola Monday.

Meanwhile, a rebel representative in Portugal says UNITA vice president Antonio Dembo has taken over the interim leadership of the rebel movement.

President Bush said his meeting with the three southern African leaders also focused on ways to bring prosperity and stability to their region. He said expanding trade is the surest way to sustainable development.

Mr. Bush also said he commended the African leaders for their leadership in developing a regional strategy to combat H-I-V/AIDS and to promote economic integration.

Mozambique's President Chissano told reporters that the African leaders talked about the need to strengthen trade between Africa and the United States. He urged the U.S. private sector to invest in Africa.

Mr. Chissano also said African countries are ready to cooperate with the United States to prevent the escalation of terrorism and to bring it to an end. He said the root of terrorism is poverty and it is important to recognize the problem and to try to eradicate it. He also said he and his fellow African leaders promised President Bush that they would develop democracy and good governance in their countries.

Botswana's President Mogae said the group asked Mr. Bush to press Congress to pass another Africa trade bill that would open more opportunities for sub-Sahara Africa.

(AP, Reuters, AFP, prev)

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