FEDERAL TROOPS; DEAD BIAFRAN SOLDIERS; PRISONER EMERGES FROM FOLIAGE; CAPTURED WEAPONS.




Initials TS/VS/CCT/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: NIGERIAN FEDERAL TROOPS ARE STILL PUSHING TOWARDS THE BIAFRAN STRONGHOLD OF ONITSHA ON THE RIVER NIGER, AND ARE REPORTEDLY TRYING TO END THE NINE-MONTH OLD CIVIL WAR BY THE END OF THE MONTH. BUT REPORTS FROM THE SELF-STYLED BIAFRAN GOVERNMENT CLAIM THAT OF THE 14,000 FEDERAL TROOPS WHO STARTED THE PUSH TOWARDS ONITSHA, ONLY 4,000 REMAIN -- AND THEY ARE READY TO SURRENDER.

THE BIAFRANS CLAIM THAT THE 14,000-STRONG FEDERAL SECOND DIVISION, CONTAINING THE CREAM OF THE FEDERAL FORCES, IS MOSTLY DESTROYED, AND THE REMNANTS OF NINE BATTALIONS ARE REPORTED TRAPPED ON A STRETCH OF ROAD HEADING FROM AWKA TO ONITSHA 20 MILES (32 KM) AWAY.

BODIES LIE ALONGSIDE THE ROAD FROM AWKA TO ONITSHA. THE FEDERAL TROOPS ARE STILL TAKING PRISONERS.

IT IS FROM ONITSHA THAT THE REBEL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN LAUNCHING RECENT OFFENSIVES ON NSUKKA AND THE ROAD SOUTHWARDS TOWARDS ENUGU, THE FEDERAL CAPITAL.

MEANWHILE, PROPOSALS HAVE BEEN REVIVED FOR AN INTERNATIONAL PEACE-KEEPING FORCE TO HELP END THE CIVIL WAR. THIS TIME THEY HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD BY THE RETIRING MILITARY GOVERNOR OF THE NORTH, COLONEL KATSINA. HE SAYS HE WOULD AGREE TO AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE IN THE BREAK-AWAY EASTERN REGION IF THE SECESSIONIST REGIME WOULD AGREE TO RETURN TO THE FEDERATION AS ONE OF 12 STATES.