Former Rebel Chief to Join Government

Parliament granted special powers to Jonas Savimbi, giving the former rebel chief the title of opposition leader, a house in the capital and bodyguards--all paid for by the state. The lawmakers hope that the moves, which also include an undisclosed salary for Savimbi, will pave the way for a functioning coalition government to formally end two decades of civil war that killed about 500,000 people. The joint government of officials from the current administration and Savimbi’s UNITA party is to take office Friday. Savimbi had warned that UNITA would not join the government unless parliament approved a special role for him as opposition leader.