The Zambian defence minister, Chitalu Sampa, has re-affirmed his country's determination not to allow Angolan government forces to launch attacks against UNITA rebels from Zambian territory.

Speaking at the end of a visit to Angola, Mr Sampa said that to do so would amount to transferring the war to Zambia, which was a neutral party in the conflict.

He described as unfortunate UNITA's claim to have brought diesel tankers into Angola across Zambian territory, in December, and stressed that Zambia had previously fined people found guilty of breaking the international sanctions against UNITA. Thousands of Angolan refugees have poured into Zambia in recent weeks as the Angolan government's offensive against UNITA spread to the border area.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service