Angola cease-fire deal agreed

Angolans have lived in the shadow of war for most of the last three decades

LUENA, Angola -- A cease-fire deal has been agreed between the Angolan army and rebel UNITA movement.

Deputy armed forces chief General Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda thrashed out the cease-fire memorandum for the government with UNITA's new chief of staff General Abreu Muengo Ucuatchitembo "Kamorteiro" representing for the rebels.

A formal signing ceremony to seal the agreement is due to take place in the capital, Luanda on Monday.

The agreement reached in the Moxico provincial capital of Luena, about 770 km (480 miles) southeast of the capital Luanda on Saturday, intends to bring about an end to 27 years of civil war.

Hopes of a breakthrough were raised in February after Jonas Savimbi, UNITA's long-time leader, was killed by government forces.

Representatives of the United Nations and the United States, Russia and former colonial power Portugal attended the signing, Reuters reported.

The three countries comprise a "troika" set up to observe the 1994 Lusaka peace accord, which collapsed in 1998.

The Angolan government opened talks with the Ucuatchitembo on March 13.