The UN Security Council has asked both sides to stop fighting so a search can be carried out for two UN-chartered planes apparently shot down over rebel territory.

Unita has declined to comment on the UN's request for a ceasefire.

Government Spokesman Higino Carneiro informed journalists of the government's position after ministers met with UN Special Envoy Benon Sevan. Mr Sevan had described Tuesday's meeting as "very good".

The UN envoy has now switched his attention to the lack of will being displayed by Unita rebel leaders.

He wants them to come forward with all available information on the whereabouts of the 22 crew and passengers who disappeared in the plane crashes.

UN 'will pull out'

Benon Sevan: "Very good" meeting

The Angolan Government spokesman also confirmed suspicions that the UN mission would be pulling out all of its observers by 26 February, when its mandate is officially due to terminate.

A BBC correspondent in Luanda, Lara Pawson, says many Angolans fear that if the UN mission does pull out, the civil war will rapidly escalate into a bloodbath.

The Security Council on Monday said it held the Angolan Government responsible for the loss of the two aircraft.

It also expressed outrage at the loss of the second UN-chartered aircraft, and called on Unita rebels to help search for survivors.

The council issued its statement after a meeting in New York to discuss Angola's apparent slide back into full-scale civil war.

Security Council President Celso Amorim of Brazil said Unita should co-operate "fully and immediately" with UN rescue requests.

Both planes crashed shortly after take-off from Huambo. The first, with 14 people on board, went down on 26 December. The second, carrying eight people, crashed on Saturday.

The flights were chartered by the UN peacekeeping mission in Angola. The passengers were either UN peacekeepers or local employees with the mission.