Angolan rebels claim 17 government troops killed

Separatist guerrillas fighting for the independence of Angola's northern province of Cabinda said Monday they had killed 17 government soldiers during weekend clashes in the oil-rich enclave.

A military source confirmed to AFP the government had suffered casualties, but gave no further details.

The fighting broke out on Saturday night, the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) said in a statement.

It said 11 soldiers were killed in clashes near the border with the Republic of Congo while six others died when their vehicle was ambushed by FLEC.

FLEC has been fighting for the independence of Cabinda for four decades. In March the group claimed to have shot dead 30 government soldiers.

With a population of 400,000 people, Angola's Cabinda province is geographically separated from the rest of the country.

It accounts for much of Angola's oil production, which makes the country the current largest exporter in Africa.

Despite a peace deal in 2006, FLEC factions have continued to wage low-level attacks in the province.