President Bush is meeting at the White House Tuesday with Angola's President, amid hopes for peace following the death of Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi.

Mr. Bush is holding talks with Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, along with the president of Botswana, Festus Mogae, and the president of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano.

The talks were scheduled before the death Friday of Mr. Savimbi, the leader of the UNITA rebels, in a clash with Angolan government troops. However, Mr. Savimbi's death has refocused attention on efforts to end Angola's long-running civil war.

On Monday, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher stressed that both the Angolan government and the rebels should put down their arms and reach a peace agreement.

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

The agenda for Tuesday's White House talks is also expected to include trade and economic development issues, poverty reduction and the fight against AIDS.

Meanwhile, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reports that gunmen, identified by an eyewitness as UNITA rebels, killed nine people and wounded 15 in an attack Monday in rural Angola. The gunmen opened fire on a truck carrying soldiers, police, and civilians near the city of Malange.

During a visit to Portugal Monday, President dos Santos said he wanted to work toward a cease-fire with the rebels as quickly as possible. He told reporters he wants to take rapid steps to normalize politics in his country.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AP.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version