Angola's UNITA rebels have killed nine people and seriously wounded 15 in eastern Angola in their first attack since the death of the party's veteran leader Mr Jonas Savimbi, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported today.
The attack took place yesterday on a highway near Catala, about 450 km (280 miles) east of the capital Luanda, Lusa said.
A survivor told Lusa an unknown number of UNITA guerrillas had opened fire on a truck carrying about 50 people. The driver was hit, the truck overturned and those killed included the National Police commander in the nearby city of Caculama.
Government troops killed Mr Savimbi on Friday. His death has fuelled hopes of an end to the long-running civil war in the former Portuguese colony.
Angolan President Mr Jose Eduardo dos Santos called for a ceasefire yesterday. Mr Dos Santos meets US President Bush today in Washington and Mr Bush is expected to urge him to seek an immediate peace with UNITA.