UN lifts Unita travel curbs

Unita: Embargoes on arms, diamonds and oil remain

By Jon Leyne BBC correspondent at UN headquarters

The UN Security Council has suspended a travel ban that was preventing members of Unita, the former rebel movement in Angola, from travelling abroad.

This travel ban was imposed on members of the Unita rebel movement while Angola's violent civil war was still raging five years ago.

Angola timeline

1975: Angola gains independence from Portugal

Power struggle ensues between Cuba-backed MPLA and the FNLA plus Unita, backed by S Africa and the US

1992: Dos Santos wins presidential poll - Savimbi rejects results

1995: First UN peacekeepers arrive

1998: Full-scale fighting resumes

Feb 2002: Savimbi killed

April 2002: Ceasefire signed

But following the death of the Unita leader Jonas Savimbi earlier this year, there is now a ceasefire, so the Security Council has decided to suspend the restriction for 90 days.

The Security Council said it recognised the need for Unita leaders to be able to travel to help promote the peace process and national reconciliation.

The UN said the suspension could be extended depending on the pace of progress towards national reconciliation.

The vote does not affect embargoes on arms, oil and diamond sales, and financial restrictions, all imposed on Unita over the past decade.

UN officials had recommended the move in order to facilitate peace talks, but it is bound to be seen as well as a reward to Unita for its cooperation in the peace process.