Luanda — The captain of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) Álvaro António on Tuesday in Luanda said that the Kifangondo battle, fought in the early hours of 11 November 1975, is representative of a act of courage of all those that took part in it.

Speaking to ANGOP, in Luanda, in the ambit of the 33rd anniversary of Angola's independence (November 11), the FAA junior officer revealed that he was part of a battalion of youths that participated in that heroic fight, adding that before the final battle there were other military confrontations between the invading forces coming from the north and the national troops who had the collaboration of a Cuban contingent.

Captain Álvaro António, currently placed in the Presidential Guard Military Unit (UGP), also revealed in that action participated a battalion of young women, that included the police officer Elisabeth Ranque Frank (Bety), now working in the Luanda Provincial Police Command, in the post of second provincial commander.

He explained that the invading forces, who had managed to take control of Caxito City (Bengo Province), advanced towards the capital city, through the locality of Kifangondo (outskirts of Luanda). In view of that, it was ordered the destruction of the Kifangondo bridge to delay the progression of the invaders.

"At that time that the bridge was destroyed three vehicles were crossing it, including a tank, so they fell with the bridge and the people died", he explained.

He said it took about four hours to disband the enemies, with several bodies and technical material left on the ground.

Álvaro António informed that from in that confrontation were captured four North-American mercenaries.

He conclude by saying that the confidence and bravery showed by those youths, in the Kifangondo Battle, served as incentive to other people, causing 90 other youths of Luanda to join the national troops.