Guerrillas claim big bush-war casualties

Press, 3 December 1979, Page 8

Guerrillas claim big bush-war casualties

NZPA-Reuter Dar-es-Salaam Patriotic Front guerrillas have claimed they have killed more than 1000 Salisbury Government troops between July and September this year. A communique issued in Dar-es-Salaam, capital of Tanzania, by the Mozamb i q u e-based Zimbabwe i African National Union wing of the Front said Front guerrillas had destroyed five important military garrisons, one big troop carrier, and three helicopters. Three tanks, four armoured cars, and 93 other military vehicles had also been destroyed, according to the communique. “During the July-Septem-ber period, the Zimbabwe African National Liberation

Army smashed an enemy offensive aimed at reoccupying the liberated zones and checking the onward thrust of the liberation forces into the remaining enemy strongholds.” it said. More than 200,000 people.have died in the seven-year-old bush war. i. In London. Britain at the week-end pressed the guerrillas to give a firm yes or no. reply to its proposals for a ceasefire in Zimbabwe Rhodesia. The 12-week-old Rhodesia peace talks were at a virtual standstill as the British Foreign Secretary (Lord Carrington) the conference chairman, ruled out further detailed discussions with guerrilla leaders over his cease-fire plans.

Lord Carrington retreated to his country home, an hour's drive from London, but British officials made clear he would be available “to receive the Patriotic Front's reply.” They said he would not agree to further discussion. A guerrilla spokesman. Willie Musururwa. told Reuters. “An agreement is in sight now and it's stupid for anybody to jeopardise this by crude behaviour. Agreement in principle on a cease-fire is the last significant hurdle barring the way to a full settlement of the 14-year-old Rhodesian independence dispute. All sides still appear confident a settlement is probable this week.