The Angolan army and the UNITA rebel group have agreed to seek an end to hostilities throughout the country. 

The two sides issued a joint statement Friday following a four-hour meeting in Angola's eastern Moxico province. During the meeting, officials discussed plans for the surrender of weapons by both sides. 

The government side was headed by Deputy Armed Forces Chief, General Geraldo Nunda, while UNITA Chief of Staff General Abreu Kamorteiro led the rebel delegation. The agreement comes a day after Angola's government unilaterally ordered its forces to halt attacks on the guerrillas and offered an amnesty. 

Angola has known almost continuous civil war since it gained independence from Portugal in 1975. A series of peace agreements have collapsed through the years, but the death of long-time UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi in a battle last month has sparked new hopes for peace. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters. 

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