Thus, Angolan rebels were able to contest the outcome by force when their movement lost elections in September.

Not all the evidence is in, and the Saudis deny they provided secret aid to Angolan rebels.

The Namibian guerrilla group and the Angolan rebels have been excluded from the talks.

At the time, American law barred the Government from assisting the Angolan rebels.

Angolan rebels refused to accept their electoral defeat in September, and the renewed fighting has pushed that country to the brink of collapse.

If they wanted to keep the Angolan rebels in the field, he would say, they had to line his pockets.

The authorities said today that fierce fighting had broken out between Government forces and Angolan rebels.

He also backed sanctions against Angolan rebels in 2000.

But Angolan rebels, who are not a party to the cease-fire agreement, said today that their attacks were continuing.

The Namibian government promptly blamed the Angolan rebels, who have denied the charges.