The Angolan army says the occupants of a United Nations plane that crashed last weekend escaped unhurt and are being held by UNITA rebels.

A spokesman Brigadier Joo Jota Manuel said the army had learnt from UNITA prisoners that they were in good condition, and were being held in the UNITA-controlled areas of Bailundo and Andulo.

There has been no official comment from the rebels.

The UN has said there were fourteen people on board the plane.

The Angolan government has given security guarantees to allow a UN team to travel to the area.

But a BBC correspondent in the region says these would mean little without the co-operation of UNITA.

On Thursday, the UN Security Council called on UNITA and the government to cooperate in the rescue operation.