Angolan Minister Dies In London

Defense Minister Pedro Maria Tonha, a former guerrilla who led government forces through nearly 15 years of civil war, died Saturday in London after a long illness. He was 54.

The government’s announcement gave no further details about the death of Tonha, better known by his nom-de-guerre Pedale.

As a guerrilla in the 1960s, Pedale fought against Portuguese colonial rule. After independence in 1975, he became governor of central Huambo province. He became defense minister of the leftist government in 1980, overseeing the war against U.S.-backed UNITA guerrillas.