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Angola 'arrests' over Togo attack | Angola 'arrests' over Togo attack |
(40 minutes later) | |
Angolan authorities have arrested two people over a deadly attack on Togo's football team at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, state media says. | Angolan authorities have arrested two people over a deadly attack on Togo's football team at the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, state media says. |
Angola's National Radio reported that two suspects were arrested in the northern province of Cabinda - where Togo's team bus was attacked on Friday. | Angola's National Radio reported that two suspects were arrested in the northern province of Cabinda - where Togo's team bus was attacked on Friday. |
Cabinda has seen a low-level insurgency for many years. | Cabinda has seen a low-level insurgency for many years. |
Two Togolese officials and an Angolan bus driver were killed in Friday's attack and the team has returned home. | |
The attack has overshadowed the start of the Cup of Nations - a showpiece event for both Angola, recovering from years of war, and African football ahead of the World Cup in June, which the continent is hosting for the first time. | The attack has overshadowed the start of the Cup of Nations - a showpiece event for both Angola, recovering from years of war, and African football ahead of the World Cup in June, which the continent is hosting for the first time. |
The team was attacked by gunmen as their bus made its way from a training camp in the Republic of Congo to the venue in Cabinda City. | The team was attacked by gunmen as their bus made its way from a training camp in the Republic of Congo to the venue in Cabinda City. |
A faction of the Cabinda separatist rebel group, Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), has claimed responsibility for the 30-minute machine-gun attack. | A faction of the Cabinda separatist rebel group, Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (Flec), has claimed responsibility for the 30-minute machine-gun attack. |
Angolan media quoted officials saying two Flec fighters were arrested near the site of the attack. | |
'Totally disregarded' | |
After recovering from their initial shock, Togo's footballers had wanted to continue playing in the tournament, but their government ordered their withdrawal. | |
"Our decision to withdraw the team is really based on the security consideration and what we believe is a mismanagement of what has happened," Prime Minister Gilbert Houngbo told the BBC's World Today programme. | |
Cabinda own-goal Football retakes centre stage | |
He said his concerns had been "totally disregarded" by officials in Angola and the Africa Football Confederation. | |
Questions are being raised about whether Angola should have chosen Cabinda to host any matches. | Questions are being raised about whether Angola should have chosen Cabinda to host any matches. |
The province is separated from the rest of Angola by part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. | The province is separated from the rest of Angola by part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
But Togolese football officials have also been criticised for arranging to drive through areas where rebels were known to be active. | |
Africa Nations Cup official Virgilio Santos said all teams had been told explicitly not to travel to the tournament by road. | Africa Nations Cup official Virgilio Santos said all teams had been told explicitly not to travel to the tournament by road. |
Richard Dowden, director of the Royal African Society, told the BBC's Today programme it was "absolutely astounding" that the Togolese football team were allowed to travel to Cabinda overland. | |
He said officials mount huge security operations when they visit the province - and generally fly there in planes or helicopters. | |
"Cabinda has got this particular problem with a nationalist movement that has kidnapped foreigners and attacks foreigners whenever it can," he said. | |
"[The rebels] must have known they were coming - it's absolutely clear that it was set up." | |
Cabinda is hosting its first match later on Monday when Ivory Coast take on Burkina Faso. | Cabinda is hosting its first match later on Monday when Ivory Coast take on Burkina Faso. |
The match between Togo and Ghana has been called off. | The match between Togo and Ghana has been called off. |
Togo's assistant coach and media spokesman were killed in the attack along with the team's bus driver. | |
Several others were injured, including goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale who was taken to South Africa for treatment. | |
Doctors said he had bullet fragments in his stomach, but was recovering well. |