The head of the UN sanctions committee for Angola, Robert Fowler, says he's convinced that the embargo on UNITA's diamond and arms trade is finally decreasing the movements ability to wage war.

Mr Fowler, who's just ended a visit to Angola, said the government's recent military victories in regaining diamond-mining areas had also helped deprive UNITA of funding.

Mr Fowler will report to the UN Security Council later this week, and present a full report of his findings by March.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service