The United Nations Security Council has ended an emergency session on the worsening military conflict in Angola by strongly criticising the leader of the country's former UNITA rebels, Jonas Savimbi.

The Council said it held Mr Savimbi personally responsible for the safety of fourteen UN peacekeepers whom UNITA has prevented from leaving an area it controls in central Angola.

One of the towns there -- Bailundo -- has now been bombed by government forces.

The Council appealed to both sides to prevent a further escalation of hostilities.

The BBC UN Correspondent says the fact that an emergency session was called indicates UN concern that Angola may be sliding back into full-scale civil war.

Our correspondent says most diplomats blame UNITA's leader, Jonas Savimbi, saying he's re-armed his movement and failed to hand over areas he holds to government control.