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WASHINGTON, June 13 (AFP) - The United States will assist Angola's national reconciliation process, but the oil-rich African country must do more to reform its economy and fight corruption, a senior US official said Thursday.

"As Angola faces the simultaneous transitions from war to peace and from a war-constrained polity to a more open political system, it will have to address pressing economic and social issues," Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Walter Kansteiner told a congressional panel.

"Along with others in the international community, we intend to help in these areas," he told the House International Relations Subcommittee on Africa as he outlined US policy toward Angola since the April peace accord that ended 27 years of civil war between the government and UNITA rebels.

"Much more needs to be done to reform the Angolan economy, privatize where possible the bloated state structure, and to guarantee that the benefits of Angola's oil and mineral wealth go to the Angolan people," he added.

Kansteiner also urged Luanda to fight harder against corruption and to prevent the spread of AIDS.

On the political front, he pointed to Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos's pledge to call general elections within the next two years and noted that leaders of the opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) have spoken of elections in 2004.

"Whether these occur in 2003 or 2004, it is important for all stakeholders in the political process -- and especially the government -- to begin to take concrete steps that will help guarantee a fair, free, transparent and consensual vote," Kansteiner said.

Also addressing the subcommittee was Paulo "Gato" Lukamba, the third most senior official in UNITA, and Daniel Ntoni-Nzinga, executive director of the Inter-Ecclesiastic Committee for Peace in Angola.

Lukamba stressed that international aid was crucial to fund the demobilization and quartering of UNITA former rebels.

"We are ready to engage the government, other opposition parties, and the civil society in a dialogue for a new dispensation in Angola," he added.

Thursday Angola's government asked the world community for 64.9 million dollars in humanitarian aid to help people suffering from famine and to bring former rebels back into society.

Angolan authorities need to feed and provide health care to about 79,000 former rebels and about 236,400 of their relatives, who are living in quartering camps set up for the surrendered UNITA fighters.

The 27-year civil war, which ended in April with ceasefire and demobilization accords following the February 22 death of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi, forced more than four million Angolans to leave their homes. More than one million of them are completely dependent on aid agencies for survival. - Nampa-AFP