Africa Cup of Nations

Second separatist group claims Togo attack

Article published on the 2010-01-12 Latest update 2010-01-12 08:44 TU

The Olympic Village in Cabinda, Angola, where Africa Cup of Nations players are staying
(Photo: Reuters)

A second separatist group on Tuesday claimed it was behind last week's deadly shooting on the Togolese football team in Angola's oil-rich enclave of Cabinda. Angolan police announced yesterday that two suspects are being held in connection with the Angolan rebel attack on the Togolese football team.

The attack has already been claimed by Rodrigues Mingas, head of the Forces for the Liberation of the State of Cabinda-Military Position (FLEC-PM), one of the many guerrilla groups battling for independence in the northern province.

But a larger group known as the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda-Armed Forces of Cabinda (FLEC-FAC) on Tuesday said they had opened fire on Togo's convoy on Friday, killing two of the squad.

"We are not terrorists, the attack did not target our Togolese brothers," said Jean-Claude N'Zita, who leads FLEC-FAC, adding the intended target was the team's Angolan military escorts.

"Every time the Armed Forces of Cabinda sees an Angolan convoy, they open fire," he said.

N'Zita dismissed Mingas's faction as "opportunists".