Savimbi faces an ultimatum

LUANDA (AFP) - The United States, Russia and Portugal announced yesterday that they had given the Unita rebels three days to decide to stop fighting and return to the negotiating table. If Unita - which has been fighting fiercely for the past month with government forces for control of Angola's second city, Huambo - does not agree to cease fire and negotiate by 10pm on Wednesday, the three powers 'will not fail to draw the necessary conclusions', they said in a statement.

More than 6,000 people have been killed in the battle between government forces and Unita rebels for Huambo, a source in the government military command said yesterday. Fighting was still raging near the provincial governor's offices, the telecommunications centre and television station.