Unita denies reports of wounded Savimbi

LUSAKA - A senior Unita official has denied reports that Jonas Savimbi, the Angolan rebel leader, had been treated for wounds. Mr Savimbi has not appeared in public for three months, fuelling suspicions that he had been wounded.

A medical source in the island state of Sao Tome said yesterday that he was part of a team that treated Mr Savimbi at Agostinho Neto hospital two weeks ago for serious injuries on the right side of his body, apparently caused by an explosion. Mr Savimbi left two hours later for an undisclosed location.

'President Savimbi has never been in Sao Tome all his life,' said Eugenio Manuvakola, head of Unita's delegation at peace talks with the Angolan government in the Zambian capital, Lusaka. Asked where he was, Mr Manuvakola said: 'As far we as we are concerned, our leader is in Angola.' Reuter