Luanda quiet after revolt

Press, 31 May 1977, Page 8

Luanda quiet after revolt

NZPA Johannesburg | Soldiers and policemen were stopping passers-by and cars for spot checks in the Angolan capital of Luanda yesterday and some Government buildings were ringed by tanks after an abortive attempt by hardliners to overthrow President Agostinho Neto, the official Yugoslav news agency, Tanjug, has reported. The city remained under a dusk-to-dawn curfew, but the report said Luanda was quiet, most shops were open, and the airport was working. Radio reports monitored in Johannesburg, South Africa, said that more than 100 people, including 10 senior members of the ruling Popular Movement were killed in the uprising early on Friday. The brief revolt was staged by an unknown num-

Iber of armed civilians led by I two pro-Moscow M.P.L.A. t hard-liners purged from the central committee a week ago, Mr Nito Alves and Mr Jose van Dunem. The rebels attacked a number of Government 1 installations around the capital, and briefly occupied the national radio station and the Sao Paolo prison. But the rebellion apparently was . crushed in less than half a day. It was not known whether the stimated 12,000 Cuban troops in Angola played any , role in aiding or repelling ’ the attackers. Radio South Africa, which monitors Radio Luanda, said ! that a number of rebels were arrested. Lisbon newspapers reported that the two leaders of the putsch were among the prisoners, but Tanjug, quoting Radio; Luanda, said they had ■ escaped.