Angolan opposition votes despite worries

2012-08-31 17:31

Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos. (AP)

Luanda - Angola's main opposition leader Isaias Samakuva cast his ballot on Friday in a modern new suburb of the capital Luanda, but again voiced concern over whether the general elections would be free and fair.

"I did my civic duty, even if we are still not satisfied with the electoral process," he said after voting, which was broadcast live on national television.

He said his Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita) still had concerns about the electoral process, including the reliability of the voter roll, which in some cases assigned people to polling stations far from their homes.

Samakuva also raised concerns about 2 000 Unita observers who did not receive accreditation. The National Electoral Commission says the party did receive accreditation for about 29 000 monitors.

Unita took only 10% of the vote in the last elections in 2008, against more than 80% for the ruling People's Movement for Liberation of Angola (MPLA) of President Eduardo dos Santos.

Voters on Friday are choosing 220 members of parliament, with the leader of the winning party set to become president. Dos Santos is widely expected to return to power, despite the emergence of the new Casa party that has quickly established itself among young voters.

- AFP