Seven Angolans accused of espionage

Seven Angolans accused of providing top-secret information to two South African diplomats in 1996, have gone on trial in the Angolan capital, Luanda.

The seven are accused of committing crimes against State security and could face prison sentences of up to twenty years.

Six of the defendants are members of the national army.

The defence lawyer for five of the accused said the two South Africans formerly worked at the South African embassy in Luanda. The BBC correspondent in Luanda says this is the first case of espionage in Angola since 1992, when the country's first multi-party elections were held.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service