News In Brief

S. Africa forces in Angola focus of UN meeting today

The Security Council will meet today at the urgent request of Angola to discuss South Africa's military offensive against guerillas inside Angola. In a letter to UN Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar, Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos said heavily armed South African forces, including paratroppers, tanks, and helicopters, were trying to push farther north in fierce fighting, having already engaged Angolan troops more than 125 miles north of the Namibian frontier.

South African forceslaunched the offensive last month, saying they were attacking Angola-based guerillas seeking independence of Namibia (South West Africa).