'JETS BOMB ZAMBIA’

Press, 2 September 1977, Page 6

'JETS BOMB ZAMBIA’

NZPA-Reuter Lusaka i: Il Zambia said yesterday that Rhodesian jets had bombed Zambian territory on Wedi.nesday near the Zambian; I border town of Feira. Agence France-Presse reported that the air-raid, in which several bombs had been dropped by the Rhodesian aircraft, had been preceded by an exchange of fire between Zambian and “rebel” . troops, a Government spokesman said, referring to Rhodesian Government forces. The spokesman said that , the Zambian side had suffered no casualties in, either the bomb attack or the exchange of fire. The Zambian Government was now examining this new development very seriously. Describing the incident, the i spokesman said: “As usual 'rebel troops fired at 9 a.m. j and Zambians returned the i fire. Shortly afterwards, they sent in iet bombers which' I dropped bombs on Zambian! [ territory. These were repelled [by our gallant troops.” i The spokesman said it, ap-l peared obvious to Zambia! that the air-raid had been! planned. In an official statement, the I spokesman said the attack; ; had confirmed President Ken- i ! neth Kaunda’s “timely warn-' ing” on Saturday. j Mr Kaunda said then that' I according to intelligence and! I military information he had! >received, the Rhodesian; Prime Minister (Mr lan Smith) had planned air-raids| against Zambia between; August 28 and September 7.1 NZPA-Reuter reports that 1 in Salisbury, a defence force communique said Rhodesian forces retaliating against Zambian fire had “neutralised” two positions on the Zambian side of the border. It made no mention of any air-strike. It said a building at Kanyemba, on the Rhodesian side of the Zambezi River border just across from Feira, had' been damaged in, the ex-i change, but there had been no Rhodesian casualties.