Rhodesian attack draws calls in Zambia for counter-strike

Press, 4 November 1978, Page 8

Rhodesian attack draws calls in Zambia for counter-strike

| NZPA-Reuter Lusaka i Pressure for retaliation ' against Rhodesia is mounting in Zambia after the sec[ond raid in two weeks . against the landlocked State by Rhodesian Air Force J planes. Both President Kaunda ,and the guerrilla leader, Mr ■ Joshua Nkomo, are now facing renewed pressure to : strike back against Rhodesia jin the wake of Thursday’s [raid against a camp of the [Zimbabwe African Peoples ■Union, which the Lusaka [Government said housed ref- : :ugees. j Dr Kaunda, who has led [Zambia for 14 years, has [ruled out retaliatory action, [but he insists that his sup-(, [port for the guerrillas using! his country' as a base to at-1: [tack Rhodesia will not! j waver. I An intensification of the[ [war by the guerrillas wouldh

considerably add to Dr Kaunda's problems across his 720 km border with Rhodesia. and he has resisted any strike-back, saying such a move ' would internationalise the bloody conflict. I Thursday’s attack, in which fewer than 20 people ■< were killed according to first reports from Zambian: medical sources, was the closest yet to the Zambian capita! — only 16km away — bringing the grim reality, of the six-year-old guerrilla l war closer still to ordinary h Zambians. In Salisbury, Rhodesia’s I air strike was seen as an-1 other boost to white confidence, demonstrating the! [ability of the Rhodesian: [forces to withstand guerrilla I attrition. [ Apart from the short | statement announcing the at- [< [tack over the Government-:: [controlled radio, which gave!

no indication of the area! raided, no further , details! were released; “Despite the British decision to give arms to Zambia, we have shown we can still! get through to the guerrillas without being stopped.” one|i source close to the military [ command said. It is believed ground- 1 | troops were not used in the battle — unlike the raids 13 i [days ago on 12 camps when: [at least 1500 guerrillas were: [claimed in Salisbury to have: [been killed for the loss off [One Rhodesian. [ After the first raids, Brit- I lain began flying in some: i$2OM. worth of military equipment to bolster Zam-j bia’s defences. i In London Commonwealth! [countries have asked Britain ’ Ito seek guarantees from South Africa that it will not [export oil to the breakaway [colony of Rhodesia. I A press statement issued I

[by the Commonwealth's [Watchdog Committee on ISouthern Africa after a two[hour meeting said that Britain should act in conjunction with the United States, France. Iran and [othgr relevant Governments

The 38-member multi-rac-ial committee examined a report outlining urgent proposals for tightening oil sanctions against Rhodesia The report declared that any attempt to tighten oil sanctions against Rhodesia must involve . confronting South Africa on this issue. Iran is a big exporter of oil to South Africa The United Slates and France along with Britain are petmanent Western members of the United Nations Security Council.

The report said that Rhodesia was now getting all its oil Supplies direct from South Africa — about 16.0(10 barrels a day.